The UN’s top human rights body decided on Tuesday to hold a special session on Friday to discuss “the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem” after the killing of 60 Palestinians by Israeli troops at mass border protests on Monday.
In a statement the UN rights body said the special session was being convened as per an official request submitted by Palestine and the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Arab Group of States.
The support of at least a third of the 47 members of the UN Rights Body – 16 or more nations – is required to call such a session.
At least 63 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire during protests on Monday, the day the United States relocated its Israel embassy to Jerusalem. On Wednesday, a senior Hamas official, Salah Bardawil, claimed 50 were members of the organisation.
112 Palestinians, including 14 children, have lost their lives since March 30 of this year, according to the UN human rights office.
The killings 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.
> Shiuly Rina
