Colombia says 'we will no longer allow international law to be treated as optional' as nations pledge to prevent arms transfers to Israel for Gaza atrocities
by Laura Gamba in Bogota
A coalition of states from around the world gathering in Bogota on Wednesday agreed to implement six measures to stop Israel's onslaught on Gaza and prevent violations of international law.
The announcement came as part of an "emergency summit" in the Colombian capital, co-hosted by the governments of Colombia and South Africa as co-chairs of The Hague Group, to coordinate diplomatic and legal action to counter what they describe as "a climate of impunity" enabled by Israel and its powerful allies.
The Hague Group is currently a bloc of eight states, launched on 31 January in the eponymous Dutch city, with the stated goal of holding Israel accountable under international law.
The announcement came as part of an "emergency summit" in the Colombian capital, co-hosted by the governments of Colombia and South Africa as co-chairs of The Hague Group, to coordinate diplomatic and legal action to counter what they describe as "a climate of impunity" enabled by Israel and its powerful allies.
The Hague Group is currently a bloc of eight states, launched on 31 January in the eponymous Dutch city, with the stated goal of holding Israel accountable under international law.
The conference brought together more than 30 states, including Algeria; Bolivia; Botswana; Brazil; Chile; China; Cuba; Djibouti; Honduras; Indonesia; Iraq; Ireland; Lebanon; Libya; Malaysia; Mexico; Namibia; Nicaragua; Norway; Oman; Pakistan; Palestine; Portugal; Spain; Qatar; Turkey; Slovenia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Uruguay; and Venezuela.
"We came to Bogota to make history - and we did," said Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
"We came to Bogota to make history - and we did," said Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
"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."
"In the deliberations at the Bogota conference, all 30 participating states unanimously agreed that the era of impunity must end - and that international law must be enforced without fear or favour through immediate domestic policies and legislation - along with a unified call for an immediate ceasefire," the Hague Group said in a statement.
To kickstart that process, the group said that 12 states from across the world - Bolivia; Colombia; Cuba; Indonesia; Iraq; Libya; Malaysia; Namibia; Nicaragua; Oman; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and South Africa - have committed to implementing the six measures immediately through their domestic legal and administrative systems.
The measures seek to "break the ties of complicity with Israel’s campaign of devastation in Palestine", the group added.
"In the deliberations at the Bogota conference, all 30 participating states unanimously agreed that the era of impunity must end - and that international law must be enforced without fear or favour through immediate domestic policies and legislation - along with a unified call for an immediate ceasefire," the Hague Group said in a statement.
To kickstart that process, the group said that 12 states from across the world - Bolivia; Colombia; Cuba; Indonesia; Iraq; Libya; Malaysia; Namibia; Nicaragua; Oman; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and South Africa - have committed to implementing the six measures immediately through their domestic legal and administrative systems.
The measures seek to "break the ties of complicity with Israel’s campaign of devastation in Palestine", the group added.
A date has been set for 20 September 2025, coinciding with the 80th UN General Assembly, for additional states to join them in adopting the measures, the statement added.
"Consultations with capitals across the world are now ongoing."
"Consultations with capitals across the world are now ongoing."
What are the six measures?
The six measures are as follows:
1. Prevent the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel.
2. Prevent the transit, docking, and servicing of vessels at any port…. in all cases where there is a clear risk of the vessel being used to carry arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel.
3. Prevent the carriage of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel on vessels bearing our flag… and ensure full accountability, including de-flagging, for non-compliance with this prohibition.
The six measures are as follows:
1. Prevent the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel.
2. Prevent the transit, docking, and servicing of vessels at any port…. in all cases where there is a clear risk of the vessel being used to carry arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel.
3. Prevent the carriage of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel on vessels bearing our flag… and ensure full accountability, including de-flagging, for non-compliance with this prohibition.
4. Commence an urgent review of all public contracts, to prevent public institutions and funds from supporting Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory and entrenching its unlawful presence.
5. Comply with obligations to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law, through robust, impartial and independent investigations and prosecutions at national or international levels, to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes.
5. Comply with obligations to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law, through robust, impartial and independent investigations and prosecutions at national or international levels, to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes.
6. Support universal jurisdiction mandates, as and where applicable in national legal frameworks and judiciaries, to ensure justice for victims of international crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In her closing speech, Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, said: "These aren't just measures but are lifelines for a people who are under relentless assault and a world that has been paralysed for too long."
"These 12 states have taken a momentous step forward," Albanese added. "The clock is now ticking for states, from Europe to the Arab world and beyond, to join them."
In her closing speech, Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, said: "These aren't just measures but are lifelines for a people who are under relentless assault and a world that has been paralysed for too long."
"These 12 states have taken a momentous step forward," Albanese added. "The clock is now ticking for states, from Europe to the Arab world and beyond, to join them."
The conference agreed to set a deadline for states’ final decisions by September 2025, in line with the 12-month timeframe mandated by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/24, adopted on 18 September 2024.
That resolution called on all states to take effective action on Israel’s violations of international law, including accountability, sanctions, and cessation of support, within one year of adoption.
"What we have achieved here is a collective affirmation that no state is above the law," said South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola.
"The Hague Group was born to advance international law in an era of impunity. The measures adopted in Bogotá show that we are serious, and that coordinated state action is possible."
That resolution called on all states to take effective action on Israel’s violations of international law, including accountability, sanctions, and cessation of support, within one year of adoption.
"What we have achieved here is a collective affirmation that no state is above the law," said South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola.
"The Hague Group was born to advance international law in an era of impunity. The measures adopted in Bogotá show that we are serious, and that coordinated state action is possible."
Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, the executive secretary of The Hague Group, said: "This conference marks a turning point, not just for Palestine, but for the future of the international system.
"For decades, states, particularly in the Global South, have borne the cost of a broken international system. In Bogotá, they came together to reclaim it, not with words, but with actions."
Israel's war on Gaza, increasingly condemned by experts and governments as a genocide, has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians and displaced almost the entire population since October 2023.
The onslaught has left the Palestinian enclave barely habitable and around two million on the brink of starvation.
"For decades, states, particularly in the Global South, have borne the cost of a broken international system. In Bogotá, they came together to reclaim it, not with words, but with actions."
Israel's war on Gaza, increasingly condemned by experts and governments as a genocide, has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians and displaced almost the entire population since October 2023.
The onslaught has left the Palestinian enclave barely habitable and around two million on the brink of starvation.
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