jeneva -The UN Human Rights Council on Friday in a resolution demanded that those who committed war crimes in 2014 Gaza conflict must be brought before domestic or international courts.
The decision, drafted in Geneva by Arab and Muslim countries, came in reaction to a report by UN investigators pointing to possible war crimes by both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups.
The resolution which referred to crimes committed in Palestinian territories, expressed concern about all alleged violations, without naming either Israel or Palestinians as perpetrators.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
It said the Geneva-based council was “appalled at the widespread and unprecedented levels of destruction, death and human suffering caused’’.
The UN body said it was necessary to make sure that all violators of international rules of law and human rights “are held to account through appropriate fair and independent domestic or international criminal justice mechanisms’’.
The council also criticised Israel for not having cooperated with the UN human rights investigators and urged the country to end its occupation of Palestinian land.
The decision was supported by 41 countries, including EU members, and the U.S. casted the only no vote while five countries abstained.
Israeli Ambassador Eviatar Manor, described the resolution as an anti-Israeli manifesto.
He argued that it ignored violations by Hamas militants and other Palestinian groups.
Meanwhile, a member of the commission said on condition of anonymity that the investigation report criticised the large numbers of Palestinian homes destroyed and civilians killed by Israeli forces.
He said the commission also criticised Palestinian militants for attacking Israeli civilians, for operating from densely populated urban areas, and for killing alleged traitors.
He said the report indicated that 2,251 Palestinians were killed between June and August of 2014, and half of them were civilians.
He said it also counted six civilians in Israel and 67 Israeli soldiers among the victims of the conflict. (dpa/NAN)