Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, Co-General Coordinator of Progressive International and Acting Chair of the Hague Group, described the motivation to create the group: "The Hague Group is born of necessity. In a world where powerful nations act with impunity, we must stand together to defend the principles of justice, equality and human rights."[5][6][7] South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, said: "The Hague Group's formation sends a clear message: no nation is above the law, and no crime will go unanswered."[1] According to its inaugural statement, the group upholds national obligations to "end the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and support the realisation of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine."[3][8]
The member states agreed to prevent the provision or transfer of weapons, ammunition and related equipment to Israel in all cases where there is a clear risk that these weapons would be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law or genocide. The countries announced that they would prevent ships used to transport weapons or military fuel to Israel from docking at any of their ports.[3] At the launch of the Hague Group, Gandikota-Nellutla said, "By coordinating commitments across our ports, across our factories, across our courts, the Hague Group aims to build a bulwark to defend international law."[3][8] Supporters present at the launch event included members of independent UN commissions, human rights lawyers, and parliamentarians from several countries including Yanis Varoufakis and Jeremy Corbyn.[5]
Legal rulings
The group referred to several different legal rulings in its inaugural statement, arguing that Israel's actions constitute genocide and violations of international law. The group states that it is the legal duty of all states to prevent such crimes.[3] They referred to United Nations resolutions, including the United Nations Security Council Resolution 418 of 1977 ordering an obligatory arms embargo against South Africa, for context.[3]
The Hague Group was initially created with nine member states;[1] within one month, founding member Belize withdrew.[10] On 3 April 2025, United Nations human rights experts, including special rapporteursFrancesca Albanese, Tlaleng Mofokeng, and Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito, called for more states to join the Hague Group because of their concern that lack of action was putting the international legal system at risk.[11][12]
As a result of the meeting, 12 of the participating states declared that they would carry out six measures in relation to blocking arms supplies, preventing institutional and funding support for the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territorites, and supporting legal investigations and prosecutions in relation to international crimes committed in Palestine. For the remaining states in attendance, a deadline of September 2025 was proposed, in accordance with the 12-month timeframe mandated by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/24, adopted on 18 September 2024.[19][20]
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the six official languages of the United Nations, and are used in the group's logo. In addition, Portuguese is one of the four languages in which the group's media is available alongside English, French and Spanish.
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