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

ADDS DETAILS OF DEBATE, QUOTE BY PAKISTAN AMBASSADOR, BRAZILIAN AMBASSADOR, EXPANDING QUOTES OF US, ISRAELI ENVOYS

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.

It called on countries to "cease the sale, transfer, and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel.” This was “to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights."

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, but excluding Albania.

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, while France and Japan abstained from voting.

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."

“This Council has long abandoned the Israeli people and long defended Hamas. It has become a shield for terrorists. It has turned a blind eye to any acts of violence against Israelis and Jews,” she said.

US Ambassador to the Human Rights Council Michele Taylor said: "Far too many civilians have been killed in this conflict, and every civilian death is a tragedy."

She also said, “Israel has not done enough to mitigate civilian harm.”

- Resolution by Pakistan

The resolution led by Pakistan on behalf of all Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states except for Albania also called for "an immediate ceasefire" and "for immediate emergency humanitarian access and assistance."

"We need you all to wake up and stop this genocide, a genocide televised around the world," Palestinian Ambassador Ibrahim Mohammad Khraishi told the council before the vote was called by the US.

Brazil supported the resolution, noting its support for South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

“While pursuing justice, the international community should find ways to heal the deep wounds of the conflict and start charting a new political horizon towards peace,” said Brazil’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Tovar da Silva Nunes.

“Brazil remains committed to a two-state solution with the economically viable state of Palestine, living side by side with Israel in peace and security, with mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders, which includes the Gaza Strip, the West Bank. and East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.