United Nations Radio

The UN Human Rights Council says it will hold a special session in Geneva Friday on the situation in the Gaza Strip at the request of Islamic and developing countries and Russia.

The formal request from 29 of the 47-nation body says the session should discuss "the grave violations of human rights in the "Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the recent aggression in the Occupied Gaza Strip."

Civilian deaths in Gaza

Many countries have expressed concern at the civilian deaths in Gaza resulting from an Israeli offensive aimed at stopping rocket attacks into southern Israel.

More than 660 Palestinians have been killed, among them 215 children and 89 women.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.
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