Nations led by The Hague Group call for arms embargo on Israel at Bogota meeting

Countries attending a major international meeting in Colombia on Wednesday issued a strong call for a global arms embargo on Israel and demanded enforcement of international rulings to halt what they described as genocide in Gaza.

A joint statement concluded the two-day gathering organized by The Hague Group — an alliance of eight countries committed to cutting military ties with Israel and complying with arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Founded in January, the group comprises Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa.

More than 30 countries participated in the Bogota meeting to coordinate political and diplomatic pressure on Israel and its allies amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

By the end of the talks, two dozen countries agreed to six measures aimed at restraining "Israel's assault on the Occupied Palestinian Territories", including an arms embargo and a review of public contracts with companies that could benefit from Israel's actions in Gaza.

In a declaration issued after the meeting, The Hague Group stated that the international community has "a legal and moral obligation to act".

"This includes suspending all military trade with Israel and ensuring that the orders of the ICJ (International Court of Justice) are fully respected and implemented," it said.

The declaration also called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unrestricted access for humanitarian aid and the international prosecution of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro hailed the outcome as "a milestone in the defense of international law and human dignity".

It marked the strongest joint statement yet by the group, which has aligned itself with South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. While the court has issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide, critics say those rulings have been largely ignored.

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, warned that the world is facing a "critical test". She urged UN member states to halt weapons transfers to Israel, support the ICJ's proceedings, and expand humanitarian aid to Gaza's besieged population.

"The events in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide," Albanese said. "This is not just a legal matter — it is a moral one. The time for action is now."

More than 58,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to the territory's health authorities. Millions have been displaced, and nearly all infrastructure has been destroyed amid Israel's military campaign following Hamas-led Oct 7, 2023, attacks.

While the United States and several Western countries continue to support Israel diplomatically and militarily, many Global South countries have expressed growing outrage over the toll of the conflict. The Bogota meeting drew delegations from Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, including officials from Palestine, Algeria, and Venezuela, as well as Spain and Qatar.

A senior Palestinian representative said the conference was "an important show of solidarity".

Brazil, for its part, reaffirmed its support for South Africa's case at the ICJ. President Inacio Lula da Silva had previously called for an immediate ceasefire and described Israel's actions as disproportionate.

The group also announced plans to form a permanent working group to coordinate legal advocacy and international outreach. Petro proposed that a follow-up summit be held later this year, potentially in South Africa or a member state of the African Union.

The Bogota Appeal will be formally submitted to the United Nations, the ICJ, and the International Criminal Court.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.