GENEVA, Jan 24 (KUNA) — The Human Rights Council expressed Thursday its grave concern at Israel’s repeated military attacks carried out in the Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza, which resulted in loss of lives and injuries among Palestinian civilians, including women and children.
In a resolution adopted by the Council, 30 votes in favor, one against (Canada) and 15 abstentions, the Council called for urgent international action to put an immediate end to the grave violations committed by Israel, including the series of incessant and repeated military attacks and incursions therein and the siege of Gaza Strip.
The Council demanded that Israel immediately lift the siege it has imposed on Gaza, restore continued supply of fuel, food and medicine and reopen the border crossings.
In addition, the Council called for the immediate protection of the Palestinian civilians in compliance with human rights law and international humanitarian law.
The Council urged all concerned parties to respect the rules of human rights law and international humanitarian law and to refrain from violence against the civilian population.
The resolution requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to report to the Council, at its next session, on the progress made in the implementation of this resolution.
The Council recognized that the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza Strip, including closing the border crossings and cutting the supply of fuel, food and medicine, constitutes a collective punishment of the Palestinian civilians and leads to disastrous consequences.
In addition, the Council listed the West Bank city of Nablus among Israel’s grave violations of human rights and humanitarian rights of the Palestinian civilians because of its repeated military attacks and incursions.