UN watchdog condemns war on Gaza

UN watchdog condemns war on Gaza

The UN rights body adopted a resolution condemning Israel of 'massive violations' [AFP] A resolution condemning Israel's military offensive in Gaza has been adopted by the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR). The non-binding resolution said the assault, which has now entered its third week and killed more than 900 Palestinians, had "resulted in massive violations of human rights of the Palestinian people". It also called for an international mission to be sent immediately to the besieged Gaza Strip to investigate Israel's actions. The resolution called for an immediate end to the firing of rockets from the Palestinian factions into Israel. Israel dismissed the resolution as one-sided. Fewer states than expected supported Monday's resolution, which passed by 33 votes to one, with 13 abstentions. The UN rights body, meeting in Geneva, accused Israel of systematically destroying the Palestinian infrastructure and of targeting civilians as well as medical facilities. 'Massive violations' All European Union countries abstained and Canada voted against the resolution. At least 4,000 Palestinians have been wounded since Israel launched its offensive on December 27 after a ceasefire with Hamas, which rules the territory, ended on December 19. Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told Al Jazeera: "In the end they [the UN] passed the resolution, it was not unanimous. I would not say it was that heated, at the end of the day there were still differences of opinion. "Many states praised the Palestinian delegation for the flexibility they had shown in the negotiations, but they could not quite reach a consensus," he said.Al Jazeera Tv,Doha,Qatar