UN Human Rights Council calls for Israel to be held accountable for possible war crimes in Gaza

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - The UN Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution calling for Israel to be held accountable for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip.

The resolution also demanded a halt to all arms sales to Israel, highlighting warnings of “genocide” in its war on Gaza.

The 47-member-country Human Rights Council voted 28-6 in favor of the resolution, with 13 abstentions.

Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany, Malawi, Paraguay, and the US voted against the motion brought by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation.

The US and Germany said the motion did not have any condemnation of Hamas which launched attacks on Israel on Oct. 7.

Belgium, Finland, and Luxembourg supported the motion.

Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, described the resolution as "a stain for the Human Rights Council and for the UN as a whole."

US Ambassador Michele Taylor said: "Far too many civilians have been killed in this conflict and that every civilian death is a tragedy."