The UN Human Rights Council has agreed to investigate alleged crimes committed during Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
The independent investigation will look into reported breaches in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel that occurred before a ceasefire halted hostilities on May 21.
Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the council that Israeli strikes on Gaza may constitute war crimes, and that Hamas breached international humanitarian law by firing rockets into Israel.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau said: "Today's shameful decision is yet another example of the UN Human Rights Council's blatant anti-Israel obsession."
Ms Bachelet earlier said there was no evidence that buildings, including media offices and international humanitarian organisations in Gaza, housed armed groups, despite Israeli claims.
Israel used such claims to justify the bombing of buildings in Gaza, including the bureau of AP.
Ms Bachelet was speaking at a special session of the council in Geneva, after a ceasefire last Friday brought an end to 11 days of fighting between Israel and armed Palestinian groups.
“Although Israel undertook a number of precautions, such as advance warning of attacks in some cases, air strikes in such densely populated areas resulted in a high level of civilian fatalities and injuries, as well as the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure," Ms Bachelet said.
"If found to be indiscriminate and disproportionate in their impact on civilians and civilian objects, such attacks may constitute war crimes."
She urged Hamas to stop carrying out indiscriminate attacks, “for which there must be accountability".
"There is no doubt that Israel has the right to defend its citizens and residents," Ms Bachelet said.
"However, Palestinians have rights too – the same rights."
Israel's Foreign Ministry said its forces had acted "in accordance with international law, in defending citizens from Hamas’s indiscriminate rocket fire".
A spokesman for Hamas called the group's actions "legitimate resistance" and called for "immediate steps to punish" Israel.
The US, Israel's main ally, said it deeply regretted the decision in the forum, where it has observer status and no vote.
At least 253 Palestinians were killed and 1,900 injured in the recent fighting.
Attacks on Israeli territory by Gaza-based armed groups, including Hamas, killed 12 and wounded 357.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
1999 - 1st round
2000 - 1st round
2001 - Quarter-finalist
2002 - 1st round
2003 - Winner
2004 - Winner
2005 - Winner
2006 - Winner
2007 - Winner
2008 - Finalist
2009 - Winner
2010 - Quarter-finalist
2011 - Quarter-finalist
2012 - Winner
2013 - 2nd round
2014 - Finalist
2015 - Finalist
2016 - Semi-finalist
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
