News - Middle East: The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will look into a draft resolution for imposing an arms embargo against Israel.

The draft was brought forward by Pakistan on behalf of 55 of the 56 member states in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It will be considered on Friday on the grounds that there is a “plausible risk of genocide in Gaza.”
The eight-page draft is co-sponsored by Bolivia, Cuba and the Palestinian mission in Geneva. It condemns “the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects by Israel” in populated areas of the besieged Gaza Strip. It also demands that Israel “uphold its legal responsibility to prevent genocide.”
The draft resolution’s possible adoption would make it the first time the UN’s top rights body has taken a position regarding Gaza since early October.
The draft calls on Israel to end occupation of the Palestinian territory, and immediately lift its “illegal blockade” and all other forms of “collective punishment.”
For a resolution to be adopted with an outright majority, 24 votes are needed. However, resolutions can pass with fewer votes due to abstentions.