BRUSSELS

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday called on UN member states to adopt concrete measures, including targeted sanctions and an arms embargo, to hold Israel accountable for grave violations against Palestinians during a high-level UN conference on Palestine set for July 28–29.

The ministerial-level meeting, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, follows the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) 2024 ruling that Israel's occupation is unlawful and constitutes apartheid.

"It’s essential for governments to address Israel’s grave abuses by committing to concrete, timebound measures, including targeted sanctions, arms embargoes, suspending preferential trade agreements, and a clear commitment to support the enforcement of all International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants," Bruno Stagno, the chief advocacy officer at HRW, said.

HRW also warned that "the threshold​​​​​​​ of a serious risk of genocide was crossed long ago," referencing ICJ rulings and the destruction of civilian infrastructure by Israeli forces. The group emphasized that states have a legal obligation under the Genocide Convention to act.

It noted that 12 countries have recently pledged to cut ties with Israel over its attacks on Gaza, while others, including the UK and several EU states, have imposed sanctions or re-evaluated trade relations.

"Much more is needed, though, to stop the Israeli authorities’ extermination, persecution, and apartheid against Palestinians," Human Rights Watch said.

The organization outlined a series of urgent measures UN member states should adopt, including suspending military assistance and arms sales to Israel, imposing travel bans and asset freezes on officials linked to serious violations, and banning all trade and business with illegal settlements.

Other proposals included suspending political and economic agreements with Israel, publicly backing the ICC, fully funding the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and addressing systemic abuses by recognizing crimes of apartheid and persecution.

"The UN Security Council should have taken such steps long ago but is paralyzed by the United States, which is complicit in Israel’s war crimes with its ongoing arms transfers and determined to ensure impunity for Israeli abuses," the group said.