New York: More than 50 countries have urged the United Nations Security Council and the UN General Assembly to halt the sale and transfer of weapons to Israel. In a letter directed to these UN bodies and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the nations accused Israel of persistently violating international laws in Gaza, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and the wider Middle East region.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the letter highlighted the grave impact of civilian casualties, predominantly affecting children and women, resulting from Israel’s violations of international law that have persisted for over a year. The countries called for the Security Council to declare an immediate ceasefire to prevent further catastrophe and to take action to implement previous resolutions aimed at protecting civilians, ensuring accountability, and demanding an end to arms transfers to Israel.

The letter also emphasized the urgent need to address the severe human suffering and regional instability, which pose
s a risk of escalating into a full-scale war in the region.