Colombia's acting Foreign Affairs Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, attend the closing ceremony a conference in Bogota, Colombia, on July 16 [Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]
Bogota, July 18 (RHC)-- The first Emergency Ministerial Summit of the Hague Group, held in Bogotá, Colombia, on July 15th and 16th, approved a joint declaration with six measures to stop the genocide in Palestine, prohibit military support for Israel, and promote international justice in response to the humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The joint declaration adopted by the countries meeting in Bogotá details the following measures to address international crimes and the situation in Palestine:
Prohibition of Military Shipments to Israel
The States committed to blocking the export of arms, ammunition, fuel, and military equipment to Israel. This measure seeks to prevent the national industries of the participating countries from contributing, directly or indirectly, to genocide, crimes against humanity, and other violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The prohibition includes any material that could be used to perpetuate the illegal occupation or violence against Palestinian civilians, ensuring that State resources are not linked to these actions.
Restriction on the Passage of Vessels with Military Material
The countries will prohibit access, docking, or the provision of services in their ports to vessels that pose a clear risk of transporting arms, ammunition, or military supplies destined for Israel. This measure is aligned with international law, specifically with States' obligations not to facilitate activities that violate human rights or humanitarian law. N ational ports will implement strict controls to identify and detain any vessel suspected of contributing to Israel's war machine.
Control of Vessels Flying National Flags
Vessels registered under the flags of Hague Group member countries are prohibited from transporting arms, ammunition, military fuel, or dual-use equipment to Israel. This restriction ensures that national fleets are not used to support the occupation or crimes in Palestine. States will establish oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance, including inspections and sanctions for vessels that violate this provision.
Review of Public Contracts with Israel
States will urgently review all public contracts with Israeli entities, both governmental and private, to ensure that state funds are not used for activities that perpetuate the illegal occupation of Palestine or human rights violations. This measure includes the evaluation of trade agreements, defense contracts, and any type of cooperation that may contribute to the occupation machine. The countries committed to suspend or cancel contracts that do not comply with the principles of international law.
Investigation and Prosecution of International Crimes
The countries will promote the investigation and prosecution of serious crimes, such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. These actions will be carried out in national and international courts, ensuring that victims receive justice and that future crimes are prevented. The States will strengthen their judicial systems to prosecute these cases and collaborate with international bodies to ensure accountability.
Support for Universal Jurisdictio
The countries will support the application of universal jurisdiction, in accordance with their national laws, to prosecute those responsible for crimes committed in Palestine, regardless of their nationality or the place where the acts were committed. This measure seeks to ensure that perpetrators of international crimes find no refuge in any country and that victims have access to justice, reinforcing the principle of global accountability for serious violations of international law.
At the opening of the summit, Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio emphasized that "Colombia has stated unambiguously that what is happening in Gaza is genocide."
For her part, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied territories, Francesca Albanese, highlighted the need to "build a new multilateral world order" led by countries such as Colombia and South Africa, which have brought legal action against Israel for genocide before the International Court of Justice.
In addition to the main measures, the countries agreed to ban the sale or transfer of arms, military fuel, and dual-use equipment to Israel, as well as to prohibit the transit or handling in national ports of vessels carrying military equipment destined for Israel.
They also committed to evaluating public contracts to avoid directly or indirectly financing the occupation of Gaza.
The Hague Group urged the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to act independently and without favoritism in the case of Israel's genocidal actions, reaffirming their commitment to international law, human rights, and accountability for international crimes.
[ SOURCE: MIDDLE EAST EYE and NEWS AGENCIES ]
