Israel should be held accountable for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated in Gaza, according to the UN Human Rights Council.
The resolution, passed on 5 April 2024. expressed “grave concern at reports of serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” Israel dismissed the resolution as “distorted text,” according to Reuters.
The resolution is not binding. It builds on previous UN resolutions and the International Court of Justice’s January 2024 finding that Israel must prevent genocide and ensure humanitarian access to Gaza.
The UN Human Rights Council is made up 47 member states, elected for a three year term and selected to represent the world’s regions equitably. Of the 47 strong council members, 28 countries voted in favour of the resolution, 13 abstained and 6 voted against it.
Nations voting in favour were Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burundi, Chile, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Finland, Gambia, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Qatar, Somalia, South Africa, Sunda, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
Those voting against were the US, Paraguay, Malawi, Germany, Bulgaria and Argentina. The abstaining countries were Albania, Benin, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, France, Georgia, India, Japan, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands and Romania.
