Human Rights Council slams Israel over Gaza

GENEVA: The UN Human Rights Council criticized Israel on Thursday for its blockade of Gaza, in a resolution that EU member states on the council abstained from voting on, citing a lack of balance.
By a vote of 30 to one, the council adopted the resolution that was tabled by Pakistan and Syria on behalf of the Islamic and Arab blocs. Canada cast the lone opposing vote, while a total of 15 other states abstained.
The resolution called for "urgent international action to put an immediate end to the grave violations committed by the occupying power, Israel, in the occupied Palestinian territory".
It marked the fourth time that the council, established in 2006 to replace the Human Rights Commission as the United Nations' main forum for human rights, had lambasted Israel in a special session.
Western states took issue with the resolution, arguing that it made no mention of Palestinian rocket attacks launched from Gaza into Israel.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Slovenia's representative said the resolution "lacks an acknowledgement of civilian casualties on both sides".
Slovenia currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, which has seven member states on the council.