52 Countries Urge Immediate Halt To Arms Sales To Israel

Bangladesh, along with 52 UN member states, has called for an immediate halt to arms sales to Israel. The Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have also signed a letter supporting this demand. The countries have expressed concerns over the ongoing violence in the Middle East and the suffering of Palestinian civilians, urging a suspension of military exports to Israel.

This information was reported on Saturday, November 9, by Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera.

The countries signing the letter include Turkey, Iran, Palestine, Bahrain, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Djibouti, China, Indonesia, Morocco, Gambia, South Africa, Iraq, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Colombia, Comoros, Kuwait, Cuba, Libya, Lebanon, Maldives, Malaysia, Mexico, Egypt, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Tunisia, Oman, Jordan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.

According to Al Jazeera, the signatory countries have raised growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and other Palestinian territories. The letter also emphasizes the need for international pressure to stop the flow of arms, which could escalate the conflict.

Israel has repeatedly rejected calls from the international community on this matter. In fact, the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has even banned UN Secretary-General António Guterres from entering the country. Therefore, it is expected that Israel will not change its military policies in response to the call from these 52 countries. The appeal to halt arms sales is largely symbolic.

However, this move may influence some countries to reconsider their arms sales to Israel. Experts believe that certain countries may reassess their military cooperation with Israel. Still, major powers like the United States and European allies are unlikely to alter their policies.