The head of Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a stark warning about the consequences of Western nations continuing to supply weapons to Israel. Tirana Hassan, HRW’s Executive Director, expressed deep concern that countries like the United States, Germany, and Britain are providing arms to Israel despite mounting evidence of potential violations of international law during its conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
The ongoing war in Gaza has seen a devastating loss of life, with Palestinian authorities reporting over 43,500 fatalities in the 13-month conflict. A recent UN report further highlighted the tragedy, revealing that nearly 70 percent of verified deaths were women and children. The war, triggered by Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, has also resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel, with around 250 taken hostage.
Hassan argues that the continued arms sales, despite evidence of potential violations, send a troubling message to the world. This message, she contends, empowers other belligerents, including Russia and China, who are quick to point out perceived double standards and undermine the international system.
“It sends a message that these rules apply differently to us [the West] and our allies as they do to others, and that has really serious consequences,” Hassan stated. She believes that governments supplying Israel with weapons are undermining their own credibility as defenders of international law and human rights, as well as the credibility of the international system itself.
The hypocrisy of Western nations demanding accountability for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine while continuing to arm Israel is a point Moscow and Beijing are exploiting, according to Hassan. “They [Russia and China] are very quick to point out double standards from the West and are trying to use that to undermine the system.”
Hassan emphasizes that when states that engage in human rights abuses see no consequences, they feel emboldened to continue their actions. The lack of accountability, she argues, creates a dangerous precedent and weakens the global commitment to upholding international law.
This powerful statement by Human Rights Watch underscores the complex and sensitive issue of arms sales and its impact on global security and the credibility of international institutions. The organization’s call for greater accountability and consistency in applying international law to all actors, regardless of their political affiliations, is a crucial message in a world increasingly marked by conflict and tension.
