British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond has said that the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution for Gaza will not help achieve a ceasefire and is fundamentally unbalanced.
Commenting on the resolution adopted on Wednesday by the UNHRC, Philip Hammond said:
“The UK is deeply concerned by the continuing bloodshed in Gaza. It is tragic that so many innocent civilians, including women and children, have been killed and injured. The urgent priority is to stop the bloodshed, restore a ceasefire and work for a longer term solution. All our efforts will be concentrated on that objective.
“Today’s UN Human Rights Council resolution will not help achieve a lasting ceasefire. It is fundamentally unbalanced and will complicate the process by introducing unnecessary new mechanisms.
“The UK could not support this resolution, but recognising the strength of feeling about the loss of life and the desire by a large number of members of the Council to express that feeling in a resolution, the UK joined other EU nations in abstaining in the vote.
“We will continue to urge Israel to exercise restraint, make every effort to avoid civilian casualties and work for an immediate ceasefire, while recognising its right to defend itself against these attacks.”
Israel’s war on Gaza has entered its eighteenth day. Operation Protective Edge has resulted in 765 Palestinian deaths of which nearly 200 were children and more than 5000 injured.
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30 Israeli soldiers have been killed including two Americans, and another three soldiers have been captured alive by Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades.
