UN Human Rights Council to hold special session on Israel violence and Gaza border deaths

AS the death toll in Gaza reaches 60, the United States has claimed that Hamas is using the relocation of the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as an excuse for violence.

HAMAS, the Islamist movement that rules Gaza, is using the controversial unveiling of the American embassy in Jerusalem as an “excuse” to encourage violence, the US State Department has said, after Israeli forces killed 60 Palestinians during protests.

When pressed by journalists in Washington, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert refused to follow other Western countries in calling for restraint from Israel, or even all parties.

“This is a complex region,” Nauert said.

While asserting that “we regret the loss of life; we regret the loss of all life,” Nauert also reiterated the White House position: “Israel has a right to defend itself.”

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Palestinian protesters burn tires during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, east of Khan Younis, Picture: AP

A Palestinian youth hurls a stone during clashes with Israeli forces on May 15, 2018 near the border fence with Israel east of Jabalia in the central Gaza Strip. Picture: AFP

Israeli firefighters extinguish tractor tyres in a farmland set on fire by a kite with attached burning cloth launched from Gaza on the Israeli side of the border. Picture: AP

Nauert declined to link the violence with the new American embassy, unveiled on Monday after the United States unilaterally recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

“We have watched the demonstrations over the past six weeks. These demonstrations are nothing new,” Nauert said.

“If Hamas wants to use that as an excuse to rile people up and to encourage violence, that is their choice. It’s an irresponsible choice.”

Israel is coming under mounting international pressure and calls for an independent probe over the violence.

Palestinians on Tuesday marked the Nakba, or “catastrophe,” commemorating the more than 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled in the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation.

Protests and sporadic incidents flared again Tuesday on the Gaza border, though they were far fewer in number than the previous day, with two Palestinians killed by Israeli fire, Gaza’s health ministry said.

Palestinians run away from tear gas shot at them by Israeli forces during a protest in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. Picture: AFP

Members of the Israeli security forces detain a woman as they disperse a demonstration outside the Damascus Gate in the old city of Jerusalem. Picture: AFP

Relatives of eight-month-old Leila Anwar Ghandoor, who died from tear gas inhalation, grieve at her home in Gaza City, Gaza. Picture: Getty

GAZA’S ‘DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION’

Earlier it was announced the United Nations Human Rights Council will hold a special session on Friday to discuss “the deteriorating human rights situation” in the Palestinian Territories.

“The special session is being convened per an official request submitted this evening by Palestine and the United Arab Emirates,” on behalf of the rights council’s Arab Group and has so far received support from 26 states, the Geneva-based body said in a statement overnight.

The UN Security Council held a meeting on Tuesday on the violence in Gaza, with Kuwait preparing a draft resolution to protect Palestinian civilians and the United States defending ally Israel’s use of “restraint”.

Palestinians run to take cover as an Israeli drone fires tear gas grenades in East Gaza City on Monday. Picture: AFP/Thomas Coex

It comes as Israel came under mounting international pressure after protests and sporadic incidents flared again on the Gaza border, though they were far fewer in number than the previous day, with two Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in the latest violence, Gaza’s health ministry said.

Palestinians on Tuesday marked the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, commemorating the more than 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled in the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation.

On Monday, tens of thousands had gathered near the border while smaller numbers of stone-throwing Palestinians approached the fence and sought to break through, with Israeli snipers positioned on the other side.

Most of the 60 Gazans killed on Monday were shot by Israeli snipers, the health ministry said.

Talks opened at the UN headquarters in New York with a moment of silence for the dead, the majority killed by Israeli fire, in the bloodiest day in Gaza since 2014.

Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine, Riyad H. Mansour speaks during a meeting of the UN Security Council. Picture: AFP/Hector Retamal

The deaths overshadowed the opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem, relocated from Tel Aviv in fulfilment of a campaign promise by US President Donald Trump, whose daughter Ivanka attended the inauguration ceremony.

The embassy move, which dramatically underscored US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, infuriated the Palestinians and was widely criticised, but on Tuesday the Security Council proved unable, once again, to reach consensus.

Arab ambassadors appeared jointly before reporters to call for an investigation into Israel’s “crimes” and for the protection of the Palestinian people.

Kuwait, the only Arab nation with a current seat on the Security Council, said it would circulate a draft resolution on “providing international protection to the Palestinian people.” Kuwaiti ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi said the draft would be circulated “most probably tomorrow.” Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour said negotiations would then begin to try to get the resolution adopted.

But while Britain and Germany are among those backing an independent investigation, the United States on Monday blocked the adoption of a UN statement that would have called for an independent probe.

Israeli firemen attempt to put out a fire in a wheat field near the Kibbutz of Nahal Oz along the border with the Gaza Strip. Picture: AFP/Jack Guez

US Ambassador Nikki Haley on Tuesday launched a stinging attack on Iranian aggression in the Middle East, deploring a “double standard,” condemning Hamas provocation and said ally Israel had acted with restraint.

“No country in this chamber would act with more restraint than Israel has,” Ms Haley told the council. “In fact the records of several countries here today suggest they would be much less restrained.”

To suggest that the violence had anything to do with the relocation of the US embassy was a smoke screen, she said.

“The Hamas terrorist organisation has been inciting violence for years, long before the United States decided to move our embassy,” she said. “Make no mistake, Hamas is pleased with the results from yesterday,” she added.

“The United States deplores the loss of human life,” she said.

An Orthodox Jew and a Muslim take part in friendly debate during a protest against Israel in London. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Britain, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden — the five European nations on the council — joined Belgium, Germany and Italy in a statement calling on Israel to “refrain from excessive use of force” and on Hamas “to avoid provocation” and ensure that protests remain non violent.

Nickolay Mladenov, the UN special co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process, briefed the Security Council by video link from Jerusalem.

“This cycle of violence in Gaza needs to end,” he said. “I have repeatedly called on all to exercise restraint, for all necessary steps to avoid an escalation of violence and for all incidents to be fully investigated.” Israel lays the blame squarely with Hamas, accusing Gaza’s Islamist rulers of war crimes. Its ambassador urged the Security Council to condemn the faction.

Members of pro-Palestinian groups demonstrate outside the US Consulate General in Johannesburg. Picture: AFP/Gulshan Khan

“Only then will justice be served,” Danny Danon told reporters. Israel, he said, regretted “every casualty”.

“How many Palestinians have to die before you take action” implored the Palestinian envoy. “Why are we the exception? Why are you paralysed?” he asked the Council.

Originally published as UN Human Rights Council to hold special session on Israel violence and Gaza border deaths