UN Human Rights Council Condemns Israeli Use Of Force Against Palestinians In March 2018

Faizan Hashmi Published March 22, 2019 | 10:46 PM

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) adopted on Friday a resolution condemning the excessive use of force by Israel against the Palestinians during the Great March of Return protests in the Gaza Strip in March 2018

GENEVA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd March, 2019) The UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) adopted on Friday a resolution condemning the excessive use of force by Israel against the Palestinians during the Great March of Return protests in the Gaza Strip in March 2018.

The document called "Ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem" was proposed by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The document was supported by 23 countries, opposed by eight more with 15 others having abstained from the voting.

"[The resolution] calls upon Israel to fully comply with its obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including its obligations as an occupying Power; urges it to conduct prompt, thorough, transparent, effective, impartial and independent investigations of all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, in particular all alleged international crimes; and also calls on it to ensure that all victims have access to effective remedies and reparation," the adopted document said.

The UNHCR has also called on all parties to the conflict to ensure peaceful nature of future demonstrations and abstain from any actions threatening civilian lives.

The UNHCR resolutions are not legally binding documents.

Tensions between the Israelis and the Palestinians near the Gaza border have been mounting since last March, which marked the beginning of the Great March of Return. Moreover, in fall, the situation on the Gaza border escalated due to continued shelling and launches of arson balloons from Gaza into the Israeli territory. Over 220 Palestinians, including children and media workers, have been killed by Israeli troops since then.

The Israeli authorities have been blaming Hamas for Gaza residents' aggressive actions toward Israel.