Security Council to get Gaza war report

THE UN Human Rights Council voted yesterday to endorse a Gaza war crimes report and send it to the Security Council, possibly setting up international prosecution of Israelis and Palestinians for war crimes.

The council approved a Palestinian-backed resolution after two days of debate on the Goldstone report, which it had commissioned following the December 27- January 18 conflict in which almost 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.

The resolution passed 25-6, with mostly developing countries in favour and the United States and five European countries — Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia and Ukraine opposing. Eleven countries abstained, including Britain and France. Russia and China, two permanent members of the UN Security Council, voted yes.