The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Friday voted to establish an investigation into Israel’s killing of peaceful protesters in Gaza and accused Israel of excessive use of force.
The resolution was supported by 29 countries. Two countries voted against while 14 abstained.
The UNHRC called on Israel as an occupying power to lift the blockade on Gaza which it described as a collective punishment of Palestinian civilians and immediately and unconditionally open all crossings and allow the entry of people goods and humanitarian aid.
The UNHRC resolution provides for an immediate dispatch of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate all violations committed against the civilian protests in Gaza that started on 30th March.
Addressing a special session of the Council UNHRC High Commissioner Zeid bin Ra’ad al-Hussein said that what happened in Gaza Monday was a tragedy and a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions.
Al-Hussein strongly slammed Israel saying that the Israeli forces killed 60 Palestinians on Monday alone. “Nobody has been made safer by the horrific events of the past week” he added.
For its part Hamas movement in a statement on Friday evening said that the UNHRC resolution is an important step on the way to expose “Israel’s real face”.
The Movement called on the international community and the International Criminal Court to hold Israel accountable for its crimes and support the oppressed Palestinian people.
The Israeli occupation forces on Monday killed 63 peaceful protesters near Gaza’s eastern border and injured about 3000 bringing the number of those killed since the Great Return March started in Gaza on 30th March to 118.
