Twelve nations commit to 'unprecedented measures' holding Israel accountable for genocide
The declaration was made during the closing of a historic summit against Israeli impunity in Colombia that brought together over 30 nations
The Hague Group announced on 16 July that 12 nations have agreed to “unprecedented measures" aimed at stopping the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, following an emergency summit in Bogota, Colombia.
According to the summit's final statement, the measures include implementing an arms embargo on weapons to Israel, preventing ships carrying weapons to Israel from docking at ports, reviewing public contracts that support the Israeli occupation of Palestine, fulfilling obligations to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law, and backing prosecutions of Israeli war criminals at national and international levels.
Of the 31 nations that attended the historic summit, only Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and South Africa committed to implementing the measures fully.
According to the statement, the remaining 18 nations “unanimously agreed that the era of impunity must end” and backed a unified call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“These 12 states have taken a momentous step forward,” UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese said during the closing ceremony. “The clock is now ticking for states - from Europe to the Arab world and beyond — to join.”
“We came to Bogotá to make history — and we did,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro said. "Together, we have begun the work of ending the era of impunity.
“These measures show that we will no longer allow international law to be treated as optional, or Palestinian life as disposable,” he added.
In response to the summit, the US State Department issued a scathing statement on Tuesday, stressing that Washington “strongly opposes efforts by so-called ‘multilateral blocs’ to weaponize international law as a tool to advance radical anti-Western agendas.”