The State of Palestine called on all states parties to the Arms Trade Treaty and its signatory states to end the transfer of any weapons or ammunition to the Israeli occupying state.

This came in a letter sent by the mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations in Geneva, calling for an immediate end to any current transfers and prohibiting any future transfers of conventional weapons, ammunition, parts and components referred to in Articles 2 (1), 3 or 4 of the Arms Trade Treaty to Israel, The occupying Power, in particular during its genocidal aggression against Gaza, until it ends its illegal occupation of Palestine and fully complies with its obligations under international law. Pending the imposition of this embargo, all countries must immediately suspend all transfers of military equipment, aid, and ammunition to Israel.

The mission explained that Gaza, an occupied and besieged enclave of Palestinian territory, is one of the most densely populated places on Earth. There are 2.3 million people living there, 50% of whom are children, and 70% of whom are refugees. Bombing Gaza is essentially equivalent to bombing children and refugees who have nowhere to run.

The mission stated, “Over the past six days, after issuing public calls for genocide - with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to turn Gaza into a deserted island, Israel, the occupying power, began dropping 6,000 bombs weighing 4,000 tons on Gaza. It closed all exits to Gaza, It cut off food, water, fuel, gas, and electricity from the civilian population. It killed more than 2,700 Palestinians, most of them children and women. At least 11 United Nations employees, 5 members of the International Committee of the Red Cross, 16 medical workers, and 10 journalists were killed. Entire families have been wiped from the population registry in Gaza - from grandparents to grandchildren - they have been wiped out. Residential areas have been destroyed, including refugee camps, residential buildings, hospitals, schools and historical monuments. Ambulances and medical facilities have been deliberately targeted. 18 ambulances were destroyed and 8 medical facilities were severely damaged.

The mission said that the effects of the use of explosive weapons on hospitals, schools, food security, water, electricity and shelter affect millions, and that the deadly military operation launched by the occupying authority against the Palestinian population in Gaza is the sixth since 2008. In each of these operations, war crimes were committed, It was also confirmed by countless reports issued by civil society organizations around the world, United Nations bodies and investigative committees.

It stressed, "States parties to the Arms Trade Treaty have legal obligations to put an end to the irresponsible trade in conventional arms that undermines international peace and security, facilitates the commission of atrocity crimes, and threatens the international legal order."

Under Article 6 (3), States Parties undertook not to permit any transfer of conventional arms if they had knowledge at the time of declaration that the arms or items would be used to commit crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and attacks directed against objects. civilians or civilians protected as such, or other war crimes as defined in international conventions to which they are a party.

Under Articles 7 and 11, it pledged not to permit any export of conventional arms, ammunition, parts and components that would, inter alia, undermine peace and security or be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

The mission indicated that it is clear that arms exports to Israel are not consistent with these obligations. Despite the declared support of the Arms Trade Treaty and its support for international law, a group of European countries that are parties to the Arms Trade Treaty decided to send military aid to Israel or approved Israel's use of its weapons while the occupying authority bombed Gaza and pledged to abide by it. The United States of America, a signatory, also sent large amounts of military aid to Israel.

The mission stressed that “States parties to the Arms Trade Treaty and signatory states must immediately end any action and prohibit any future transfers of conventional weapons, ammunition, parts and components referred to in Articles 2 (1), 3 or 4 of the Arms Trade Treaty to Israel.” "the occupying power."

The mission said that failure to take these measures would mean more deaths and more suffering, as thousands of civilians continue to endure the brutality of the occupying power, and discredit the Arms Trade Treaty itself. It also makes States parties and signatories vulnerable to complicity in internationally wrongful acts through assistance. Or incitement to commit international crimes.

The mission concluded that the Arms Trade Treaty could make a difference in the lives of many countries, and that it had the potential, if implemented in good faith, to spare countless potentially protected persons, including women and children, from needless suffering, if ignored. Our call to stop leaving the Palestinian people behind when it comes to implementing the Arms Trade Treaty will destroy the raison d'être of the Arms Trade Treaty.