The impact of arms exports on human rights: Insights from the Gaza War
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel. In response, Israel began a big military operation in Gaza. The main objective of Israel was to weaken the Hamas military and rescue 251 hostages. Many countries stand in favor of Israel to defend its rights. But there were growing concerns and an increasing number of deaths made the situation worse.
Critics argued that Israel’s attacks caused disasters in hospitals and schools and were harming civilians. Airstrikes launched by Israel also killed journalists and aid workers. On December 12, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly published notices for a ceasefire and warned everyone to follow international law. In January 2024, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to stop aggressive action against Gaza and allow aid to the affected regions. By May, the court had told Israel to prevent military operations in Rafah. These events highlight the serious effects of war on innocent people and the need for responsibility in conflicts.
On September 18, 2024, world leaders gathered in New York. The United Nations General Assembly passed a law forcing Israel to stop its illegal presence in the Palestinian territory. It is also warning countries to stop aiding Israel through military help. This is because Israel used this aid to destroy various regions across the world. This announcement has resulted in more pressure on the countries to limit their military sales. However, many nations are suffering from legal challenges over their arms policies.
Arms sales and war crimes are interconnected to each other. The Geneva Conventions need nations to follow international laws and make sure that selling arms to any nation does not break the rules.
Agreements like the European Union’s arms export rules from 2008 and the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty support this goal. This situation raises important questions about how the ongoing conflict in Gaza affects the arms export practices of big weapon-exporting countries. It also shows the responsibility to prevent misuse of military supplies.
How did Israel enhance its arms imports?
In the past decades, Israel has significantly enhanced its arms imports. The nation becomes the 15th largest importer nation on the globe from 2019 to 2023. The main suppliers to Israel are Germany, the US, and Italy. In these three nations, the United States provides 69% of Israel’s imports. The supplies of the US contain many weapons, such as aircraft and missiles. These weapons prove very beneficial for Israel’s military. Additionally, United States law makes sure that Israel defends its rights properly and fights against threats from other nations. However, some people in the US oppose America’s support for Israel. Despite this fact, the nation continues to show its support.
This strong military partnership shows the close relationship between the USA and Israel. However, it raises worries about how this affects stability and the humanitarian situation in conflict areas.
After the US, the other major supplier of arms to Israel is Germany. They import 30% of their military imports between 20219 to 2023. Most of these arms were used in naval operations during the Israel-Hamas war. It includes frigates and torpedoes.
Nicaragua has asked the International Court of Justice to stop military aid. But the court noted that Germany’s arms exports dropped a lot, from €200 million in October 2023 to just €1 million by March 2024.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, ensured that weapons shipment would never stop. In June 2024, Palestinian residents tried to halt arms exports but were denied by a German court.
After Germany, Italy is the 3rd number to help Israel to provide weapons. It contributes 0.9% of Israel’s major arms. The supplies contain helicopters and naval guns, while also participating in the F-35 program.
Despite initial claims of halting weapon shipments, Italy confirmed that some exports continued under existing contracts, ensuring that they would not be used against civilians in Gaza.
