DHAKA: The UN Human Rights Council has voted to launch an independent inquiry into Israel's offensive in Gaza, Israel continued its bombardment of the Gaza Strip in its operation against Hamas.
The vote on Wednesday in Geneva came hours after the UN rights chief, Navi Pillay, told an emergency session of the council that Israel's military actions could amount to war crimes, as it continued pounding the enclave for a 16th day.
The 47-member council adopted the investigation under a draft resolution after a request by Palestine, which has UN observer status.
The Israeli prime minister's office said in a statement that the decision was a "travesty", adding that Israel had "gone to unprecedented lengths to keep Palestinian civilians out of harm's way".
A total of 715 Palestinians - the vast majority of them civilians - have been killed in Israel's 16-day campaign in Gaza. In the same period, two Israeli civilians have been killed by rocket fire into Israel, and 32 Israeli soldiers have died in Gaza.
Israel focused its attacks on Wednesday on southeast of Gaza, with residents fleeing Khan Younis as the town and surrounding areas came under bombardment as Israeli troops fought Hamas gunmen.
A total of 17 people were reported killed, although the figure could rise as emergency services gain access to the area.
Wednesday also saw a flurry of diplomatic activity, with John Kerry, the US secretary of state, holding meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. However, hopes of a ceasefire appeared to be in deadlock.
In his first comments since the Israeli invasion, Khalid Mesaal, the Hamas political leader, said in a news conference in Qatar that Hamas would never agree a ceasefire plan that did not offer the ending of the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
The Israelis have said they will not accept a ceasefire that included an agreement on the blockade, and want a two-step solution - a ceasefire, then talks on any easing of restrictions.
Source: Al-Jazeera
BDST: 1057 HRS, JUL 24, 2014
