REPRESENTATIVES from nine nations across the world have come together to form The Hague Group in the Netherlands to implement economic and diplomatic sanctions against Israel for its assault on Palestine.
Senior figures from Cuba, Malaysia, Bolivia, South Africa, Namibia, Belize, Colombia, Honduras and Senegal gathered at The Hague on Friday announcing a refusal to “remain passive in the face of such international crimes" by Israel.
An average of 100 Palestinians are thought to have been killed every day since October 7, 2023.
The group set out a raft of measures to cut ties with Israel and restrict its ability to continue carrying out “war crimes” in Gaza.
What has been announced?
The actions The Hague Group has set out are:
- upholding the arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant
- preventing the "provision or transfer of arms" or any military kit to Israel which "might be used" to commit war crimes or genocide
- preventing "vessels at any port" in their countries "if there is a clear risk of the vessel being used to carry military fuel and weaponry to Israel" in the same circumstances as above
The nations have also called on "all states to take all possible actions and policies to end Israel’s occupation of the State of Palestine".
The joint statement
In a statement which has been published in full online, the group said it is being guided by the “purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations” and the responsibility of all nations to “uphold inalienable rights”.
The representatives said they are grieving the lives and communities lost due to Israel and are determined to “uphold our obligations to end the Israeli occupation of the state of Palestine” and “support the realisation of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”.
It added that the nations are convinced that collective action “through co-ordinated legal and diplomatic measures at both national and international levels” is an “urgent imperative to uphold the principles of justice and accountability that form the foundation of the UN Charter”.
What did representatives say?
Representatives from all nations involved made speeches at a press conference in The Hague.
Yvonne Dausab, Namibia’s minister of justice, said: “We must protect the integrity of the ceasefire."
Citing Namibia’s refusal to let an Israeli vessel dock in the country, she added: "We call on all other states to take the same position in compliance with international law."
Alvin Botes, deputy minister of South Africa’s department of international relations, said that the ICJ ruling on the Israeli occupation of Palestine proved that Israel "is an apartheid state".
Assad Shoman, special envoy for Belize, added that sovereignty "cannot be bartered away or subject to conditions".
This has a special relevance for Belize, which is locked in a territorial dispute with Guatemala.
Roberto Calzadilla Sarmiento, Bolivian ambassador to the Netherlands, criticised Israel’s allies for what he said are attempts to "undermine" the independence of institutions like the ICJ.
What have these countries already done?
The countries involved The Hague Group have already taken actions against Israel.
Colombia has suspended weapons purchases from and coal exports to Israel and severed diplomatic links.
Belize and Bolivia have also both cut diplomatic ties with the nation amid the atrocities in Gaza.
Malaysia has implemented a maritime ban on Israel-affiliated vessels, preventing them from docking at any Malaysian port, while also maintaining no diplomatic ties with Israel.
Namibia blockaded a vessel carrying military shipments destined for Israel and condemned Germany's decision to support Israel in the genocide case brought by South Africa.
Senegal has made a commitment under Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to take more "concrete actions" in support of Palestinian rights.
