UN Human Rights Council to investigate violations in Gaza

GENEVA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The UN Human Rights Council on Friday during a special session adopted a resolution deciding to "urgently" dispatch a commission of inquiry to investigate all violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

The draft resolution was adopted by 29 votes in favor, two against with 14 abstentions. The two states that voted against were Australia and the United States.

According to the adopted resolution, the investigation should be done in the context of the military assaults on the large-scale civilian protests that began on March 30 and to establish the facts and circumstances of the violations, including those that may amount to war crimes.

The inquiry group should also identify those responsible, make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, including individual criminal and command responsibility, for such violations.

The resolution decided that the inquiry group should present an oral update to the UN Human Rights Council this September and a final, written report next March.

The resolution stipulates Israel should immediately and fully end its illegal closure of the occupied Gaza Strip, which amounts to collective punishment of the Palestinian civilian population.

It condemned the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, including in the context of peaceful protests, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

As requested by Palestine and the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Arab Group of States, the UN Human Rights Council on Friday opened a special session to discuss on "the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem".

Over 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been killed and some 12,000 wounded by Israeli forces since the new round of anti-occupation protests in Gaza began on March 30. At least 60 Palestinians were killed on May 14 when the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem officially opened despite international criticism.