The United Nations Human Rights Council agreed yesterday to launch an international inquiry into violations that may have been committed during Israel’s latest military offensive in Gaza.
At the end of an emergency session, the 47-member Geneva state forum adopted a resolution presented by Palestinians by a vote of 29 states in favour, one against (the United States) with 17 abstentions (including some European Union members).
Earlier in the day, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Israel might have committed war crimes by killing civilians and shelling houses and hospitals during its two-week-old offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Pillay also condemned the indiscriminate firing of rockets and mortars by Palestinian militants into Israel.
“These are just a few examples where there seems to be a strong possibility that international humanitarian law has been violated, in a manner that could amount to war crimes. Every one of these incidents must be properly and independently investigated.”
The UNHCR convened the special one-day session at the request of the Palestinians, Egypt and Pakistan.
