UN Human Rights Council calls for accountability for possible war crimes by Israel
This photo taken on Feb. 29, 2024 shows an exterior view of the United Nations (UN) Office in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Shi Song)
The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution urging Israel to be held responsible for potential war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. The resolution also urges all nations to cease supplying weapons to Israel.
Out of the 47 member nations in the UN Human Rights Council, 28 countries voted in favor, 13 abstained and 6 opposed the resolution. China supported the resolution, while the United States and Germany opposed it.
The new ruling stressed "the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity".
It also expressed "grave concern at reports of serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law, including of possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory".
The resolution also calls on states to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel.
Friday's proposal, which was brought forward by Pakistan on behalf of all Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states except Albania, also called for "an immediate ceasefire" and "for immediate emergency humanitarian access and assistance".
The Palestinian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, expressed approval of the vote but also voiced dissatisfaction with the lack of support from certain Western countries.
Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, condemned the resolution as a stain on the Human Rights Council and the UN as a whole.
Related articles
Singapore Airlines: 1 dead, others injured after London
BANGKOK (AP) — A Singapore Airlines flight hit severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean and descended2024-05-22Woodgrove shopping centre, Melton: Families flee machete
Terrified parents have fled a Melbourne shopping centre with their children after a bloody fight bro2024-05-22Home values rising in Detroit, especially for Black homeowners, study shows
DETROIT (AP) — Home values in Detroit — especially for Black residents — have increased by billions2024-05-22Venezuela closes embassy in Ecuador to protest raid on Mexican embassy there
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ordered the closure of his country’s e2024-05-22It's so hot in Mexico that howler monkeys are falling dead from the trees
MEXICO CITY (AP) — It’s so hot in Mexico that howler monkeys are falling dead from the trees.At leas2024-05-22A painting of Winston Churchill by an artist whose work he hated is up for auction
LONDON (AP) — A portrait of Winston Churchill by an artist whose work the British leader loathed wen2024-05-22
atest comment