MNN (Web Desk); The Council of Europe, a 46-member human rights body distinct from the European Union, has called on its member states to suspend the transfer of weapons to Israel if there is a credible risk they could be used in human rights violations, AFP reported.
Michael O’Flaherty, the Council’s Commissioner for Human Rights, stressed that member governments must “do their utmost to prevent and address violations of international human rights” in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups.
He urged states to apply strict legal safeguards to arms transfers, ensuring that export licences are denied where there is a possibility the weapons might be deployed in breaches of international law.
O’Flaherty also appealed for greater humanitarian efforts, including ensuring unimpeded delivery of aid to affected civilians and pressing for the immediate release of hostages.
The statement comes as Israel continues its military operations in Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas-led attack, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel and led to over 250 hostages being taken into Gaza.
Since then, Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 39,000 Palestinians — the majority women and children — have been killed in Israeli strikes, sparking growing international criticism.
While the Council of Europe has no direct authority over arms sales, its resolutions and statements carry political weight and are often used to pressure member states into aligning policies with human rights obligations under international treaties.
