Special Rapporteur
Also addressing the Council, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Michael Lynk, repeated his call for the latest escalation - the most serious since 2014 - to be investigated by the International Criminal Court.
Describing Gaza as "the world's largest open-air prison", Mr. Lynk added that the enclave was nothing more than a "tiny sliver of land, holding more than two million people under occupation, cut off from the outside world by a comprehensive and illegal air, sea and land blockade".
Israel alone had the authority to determine "who and what enters and leaves the (Gaza) Strip", insisted the Special Rapporteur, who is independent of the UN and answers to the 47 Member States of the Human Rights Council.
"When intensive violence revisits the Palestinians in Gaza, as it regularly does, there is no escape. That this medieval restriction on basic freedoms has gone on for 14 years, and counting, is a harrowing stain on our humanity."
Israel would not end its occupation "without decisive international action" that is grounded in the framework of rights, the independent rights expert continued.
He insisted that Israel's "occupation has become as entrenched and as sustainable as it has because the international community has never imposed a meaningful cost on Israel for acting as an acquisitive and defiant occupying power".
West Bank fragmentationEchoing the High Commissioner's concerns over violence in the occupied West Bank, the Special Rapporteur also noted that demonstrations since May 10 at events in Gaza and in East Jerusalem had led to 27 Palestinians being killed by Israeli security forces and 6,800 injured.
"The 2.7 million Palestinians on the West Bank live in 167 fragmented islands of land, separated from the world and each other by Israeli checkpoints, walls, settlements and settler-only roads," said Lynk. "Their collective future is being devoured before their eyes by the 240 Israeli settlements expanding on their lands."
Justified defenseDefending its actions, Israel's delegation justified attacks on Gaza, claiming that more than 4,400 rockets had been fired "at Israeli civilians" by Hamas over a 10-day period beginning 10 May.
The Israeli ambassador insisted that Hamas had fired rockets "indiscriminately, targeting civilians, to kill as many innocent people as possible. Israel takes all steps to adhere to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and necessity. We do so not only because of our obligations under the Law of Armed Conflict but also because it is our moral duty to protect innocent lives."
The results of the vote were as follows:
In favour (24): Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Gabon, Indonesia, Libya, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.
Against (14): Bahamas, Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, France, India, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Togo and Ukraine.
Abstentions: (9): Austria, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Czech Republic, Germany, Malawi, Marshall Islands, United Kingdom and Uruguay.
U.S. had quitted the Council in June 2018.
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