Monday, July 28, 2014
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| (photo A.M. Ahad, AP) |
American support for Israel has been tested during the recent military invasion of the Palestinian territory, which has seen hundreds of civilians—including many children—killed in the fighting.
But the Obama administration stuck by the Israeli government when Palestine called for a UN probe of reported violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The resolution passed the UN Human Rights Council with 29 nations in favor and 17 abstentions. The only country to oppose the plan was the U.S.
In addition to condemning the "widespread, systematic and gross violations of international human rights and fundamental freedoms" caused by Israeli military operations, the measure "condemned all violence against civilians wherever it occurred, including the killing of two Israeli civilians as a result of rocket fire."
The resolution further calls for an immediate ceasefire, for Israel to immediately reopen the Gaza Strip, and for nations to provide humanitarian aide to the Palestinian people.
More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and thousands injured since the invasion began on July 7, along with 45 Israelis, according to news reports.
"In Gaza, 443 or 74 per cent of the killed are civilians," Kyung-Wha Kang, assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and UN deputy emergency relief coordinator, said in a statement. "One third of civilians killed so far are children. One child has been killed each hour in Gaza over the past two days."
-Noel Brinkerhoff
To Learn More:
As Civilian Casualties Rise in Gaza, UN Rights Council Agrees Probe into Alleged 'War Crimes' (United Nations)
UN Human Rights Council Launches Inquiry into Gaza Conflict (by David Stout, TIME)
Analysis: Human Rights or Human Shields in Gaza War? (by Oren Dorell, USA Today)
via AllGov
