Global probe into killings

THE UN Human Rights Council has decided to establish an independent mechanism to probe events in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s violations.

The situation on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip has deteriorated significantly. Palestinian rallies, which started as the Great March of Return on March 30 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian exodus after the creation of the Israeli state, escalated after the US opened its embassy in Jerusalem. Dozens of Palestinian protesters were killed.

During its special session on the “deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem”, the council adopted a resolution, which was proposed by Pakistan on the part of the Arab League, urging the creation of the mechanism to probe violations of the rights of the Palestinians and possible war crimes.

The resolution was supported by 29 permanent members of the council. Australia and the US opposed the resolution; 14 member states abstained.

The resolution stipulates the creation of an independent international commission to investigate violations of human rights and international law in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

The document highlights the necessity to investigate the violations, which can be perceived as war crimes. The commission is expected to determine the responsible parties and propose penalties.

It is to present an oral report on the investigation at the 39th session of the council in September and a written report is to be submitted by the 40th UNHRC session in March next year.

UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein said during the session that Israel, as an occupying power, was obliged to protect the Gaza population, and condemned Israel’s use of lethal weapons on people exercising their right to protest.

Israeli ambassador to the UN organisations in Geneva, Aviva Raz Shechter, blamed the Palestinian authorities and the Hamas movement for using people as human shields

The Palestinian delegation said the protests were peaceful and could not be used as an excuse for Israel’s use of lethal weapons. – Sputnik/ana

PICTURE: AP/EBRAHIM NOROOZI/AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY (ANA) Iranian protesters burn representations of the flags of Israel and the US at a gathering at the former US embassy in Tehran this week. Hundreds of hardliners gathered at the former embassy to show their anger over the death of dozens of Palestinians...