Statement from WILPF: Stop Arming Israel and Abetting Its Crimes
Once again, Israel is unleashing unlawful, immoral and unconscionable violence against people of the Middle East. On top of its genocide of Palestinians, Israel is bombing buildings and deploying explosives inside commonly used technological devices in Lebanon. It has now begun a ground invasion that will inevitably lead to further massive civilian casualties, destruction and displacement. Families are being torn apart or seeking refuge in open air public spaces, communities displaced, and hospitals are overwhelmed, struggling to manage the increasing influx of civilians in need of urgent care.
This comes after a year of waging war against Palestinians in Gaza and in the West Bank. Using a Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 as a justification for its actions, Israel intensified the project of extermination and displacement that it has been carrying out since it began its unlawful occupation of Palestinian land. Since October last year, Israel’s bombing of homes, hospitals, medical facilities, markets, schools, water and sanitation facilities, and refugee camps; its systematic destruction of farmland and olive trees; its murder of journalists, humanitarian aid workers, and medical practitioners; its brutal detention, torture, and sexual violence of Palestinians; and its impunity for settler vigilante violence against Palestinian lives, livelihoods, and homes have all solidified Israel’s place firmly outside of the system of international law.
Last week, Israel’s prime minister Netanyahu proclaimed from the United Nations (UN) General Assembly podium that his government “seeks peace,” yet hours later ordered unprecedented massive airstrikes on Beirut. Months earlier, the Israeli ambassador to the UN stood on the same stage and shredded a copy of the UN Charter. Most recently, Israel has barred the UN Secretary-General from visiting the country.
In addition to these recent events, Israel continues to stand in violation of the Genocide Convention, international humanitarian law, international human rights law, the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, International Court of Justice rulings and opinions, UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions, and countless recommendations from UN human rights bodies, such as those made by Commissions of Inquiry and the UN Special Rapporteur over the years.
Third States’ Complicity in Genocide
But Israel is not alone in its arrogant defiance and violation of international law. Even as most governments and peoples around the world condemn Israel’s actions and call for a ceasefire, a handful of militarily and economically dominant states are aiding and abetting the genocide and other international crimes.
The United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Australia, and possibly others, continue to directly and indirectly supply Israel with weapons, ammunition, weapon parts and components, and/or other military equipment. The United States alone has sent over 50,000 tons of weapons and military equipment to Israel since 7 October 2023. Some governments, such as those of Canada and the United Kingdom, have announced halts to certain arms export licenses, yet continue to ship essential parts and components, including for the F-35 fighter jet.
Other governments, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Brazil are supplying Israel with jet fuel. Some, like Australia, are providing communications and electronic intelligence support.
Even while some of these governments have denounced Israel’s actions and called for a ceasefire in the context of Israel’s aggression against both Lebanon and Palestine, they continue to supply the weapons and the war material for Israel to continue its onslaught with impunity. These governments are complicit in genocide and other international crimes, including war crimes. They are violating the Arms Trade Treaty, the Geneva Conventions, the Genocide Convention, and more, meaning that government officials could be charged at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Private companies, too, are complicit. Weapon manufacturers such as Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, RTX/Raytheon, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and more are building the bombs, bullets, and jets, while the Danish shipping company Maersk is responsible for making sure weapons from around the world reach Israel. Tech companies are supplying algorithms used to target Palestinians, while fossil fuel companies such as BP, Chevron, Exxon, Shell, TotalEnergies and Eni, among others, are literally fueling the genocide and now the bombing of Lebanon. Financial institutions investing in these companies should be concerned about being complicit in international crimes, including genocide.
Action Now
In contrast, brave governments, unions, and ordinary people around the world have been taking direct action to stop the genocide and aggression against Lebanon. Namibia and Angola blocked a ship carrying explosives to Israel from docking in their ports. Colombiarefused to supply Israel with coal, and South Africa brought a case against Israel with genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Activists, politicians, and workers in Palestine, Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have coordinated their efforts to successfully delay military jet fuel deliveries. Students, academics, port workers, and organisers and activists around the world are facing police repression for protesting and blockading arms transfers and financial investments in the genocide.
We are past the moment of reckoning. We know the international system is failing to protect Palestinians and millions of others whose lives are treated as expendable in the interests of settler colonialism, economic extraction, and war profiteering. It is up to us to end this genocide and put a stop to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
WILPF reiterates its call for the imposition of an immediate, comprehensive two-way arms embargo on Israel. No weapons, surveillance technology, military equipment, intelligence data, or war material to Israel; no purchases of the same from Israel or Israeli companies.
WILPF also calls on all countries supplying weapons, ammunition, parts and components, jet fuel, and any other material or financial support to Israel to immediately stop. They must rescind all relevant arms export licenses and prevent any further production and shipment of weapons and military equipment to Israel.
All governments, politicians, workers, and organisers should cooperate to prevent the docking, transhipment, or other transit or supply of weapons or fuel to Israel.
All governments must support the initiative to hold Israel to account through the ICJ and its political leaders through the ICC.
All governments must also demand an immediate ceasefire, full access for the provision of humanitarian aid, an end to the occupation of Palestine and to Israeli aggression against Lebanon, and compliance with all relevant ICJ measures and UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions.
Universities and other institutions invested in Israeli academia or corporations must immediately disclose their financial and intellectual collaborations and divest their funds.
5/10/2024