The United Nation has voted to send an international war crimes probe to Gaza after the body’s leading human rights official slammed Israel’s reaction to protests along the border as ‘wholly disproportionate’.
Israeli firing into Gaza killed nearly 60 Palestinians at mass border protests in the last week. Israeli brutality injured more than 2,700 during mass protests along the Gaza border on the day the US officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem.
In the 47-member strong UN Human Rights Council, the resolution to approve investigation was passed by 29-2 as 14 states abstained. United States and Australia voted against the resolution. Local media of few countries which remained abstained from vote, for a Commission of Inquiry into Israel’s killing of unarmed Palestinians, have been receiving criticism for not taking side to take action against violations of human rights. Lawmakers of United Kingdom termed action of UK disgraceful in this regard. Pakistan is one of the countries that have forwarded the resolution.
The resolution condemned the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians. The independent, international commission of inquiry mandated by the council will be asked to produce a final report. It was rightly highlighted that all the protesters were unarmed and they were using their right to protest in favour of their demands. In the words of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, ‘caged in a toxic slum from birth to death; deprived of dignity; dehumanised by the Israeli authorities to such a point it appears officials do not even consider that these men and women have a right, as well as every reason, to protest”. From last many years 1.9 million people living in Gaza had been denied human rights by Israeli authorities. Unlawful use of force by occupying Israeli forces is direct breach of the Geneva Convention.
Some are lamenting international powers for to not take action against Israel as country is using absolute force against civilians of Gaza from last many decades. It is also being argued that Israel must be held accountable for its decade long atrocities and not for just recent incidents of human rights violations. It is hoped that call for an independent investigation will lead to justice as from March of this year Israeli forces have killed over 125 innocent people, including children. It is hopes that the ones responsible for human rights violations must be held accountable.