The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution on Friday calling for Israel to be held accountable for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. Despite Israel dismissing it as a "distorted text," the resolution garnered 28 votes in favor, with 13 abstentions and six opposing countries, including the United States and Germany.
The resolution emphasized the necessity of ensuring accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law to end impunity. It expressed grave concern over reports of serious human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Furthermore, the council demanded a cessation of all arms sales to Israel, citing warnings of "genocide" in its conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in over 33,000 casualties. Israel's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Meirav Eilon Shahar, accused the Council of abandoning the Israeli people and defending Hamas, stating that the resolution portrayed Israel as having no right to protect its citizens while granting Hamas the right to harm innocent Israelis.
The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, had pledged to vote against the resolution due to its lack of specific condemnation of Hamas for recent attacks. However, the US representative to the Council, Michèle Taylor, acknowledged that Israel had not done enough to mitigate harm to civilians. She highlighted the need for Israel to coordinate military operations with humanitarian efforts to prevent civilian casualties, noting that more humanitarian workers have been killed in this conflict than in any modern-era war.
The UNHRC, meeting periodically throughout the year, serves as the principal intergovernmental body tasked with safeguarding human rights globally. It has the authority to intensify scrutiny of countries' human rights records and authorize investigations.
The resolution emphasized the necessity of ensuring accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law to end impunity. It expressed grave concern over reports of serious human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Furthermore, the council demanded a cessation of all arms sales to Israel, citing warnings of "genocide" in its conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in over 33,000 casualties. Israel's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Meirav Eilon Shahar, accused the Council of abandoning the Israeli people and defending Hamas, stating that the resolution portrayed Israel as having no right to protect its citizens while granting Hamas the right to harm innocent Israelis.
The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, had pledged to vote against the resolution due to its lack of specific condemnation of Hamas for recent attacks. However, the US representative to the Council, Michèle Taylor, acknowledged that Israel had not done enough to mitigate harm to civilians. She highlighted the need for Israel to coordinate military operations with humanitarian efforts to prevent civilian casualties, noting that more humanitarian workers have been killed in this conflict than in any modern-era war.
The UNHRC, meeting periodically throughout the year, serves as the principal intergovernmental body tasked with safeguarding human rights globally. It has the authority to intensify scrutiny of countries' human rights records and authorize investigations.
