United Nations Radio

The UN Human Rights Council is holding a special session in Geneva to discuss what some member states say is the grave violations of human rights and aggression in the Gaza strip.

The special session was called by Egypt, Pakistan and Cuba and supported by 32 members states of the council. Patrick Maigua reports from Geneva.

The Human Rights Council special session on Gaza comes a day after the Security Council approved a resolution calling for an immediate and durable ceasefire. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the situation in Gaza was intolerable. She called for credible, independent and transparent investigations to identify violations of international law and establish responsibilities warning that some of violations may constitute war crimes.

Navanethem Pillay

"The ceasefire decided by the Security Council must be given effect in order to allow at a minimum, the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in the Gaza strip and the evacuation of the wounded. I stress the need to deploy human rights monitors in both Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories who can independently document violations of international human rights and humanitarian law that may have been perpetrated."

The High Commissioner said while indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas into Israel was unacceptable, Israel's retaliatory air strikes were exacting unbearable toll on lives and exposing Palestinians to extreme danger. The Human Rights council special session is expected to adopt a resolution calling on Israel to end its military operation in Gaza, stop targeting civilians, lift the blockade and allow free movement of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Patrick Maigua UN Radio Geneva.

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