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UK abstention from UN vote on Gaza violence 'disgusting,' says Labour

Sunday, 20 May 2018 4:43 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 20 May 2018 6:14 AM ]

A Palestinian demonstrator walks in the smoke billowing from burning tyres during clashs with Israeli forces along the border with the Gaza Strip, on May 18, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

The UK shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, has criticized the UK government for abstaining on a UN Human Rights Council vote on Israeli violence in Gaza, calling it “disgusting.”

On Friday, the UN's top human rights body voted in favor of a resolution, demanding that an independent commission be “urgently” sent to investigate Israeli deadly attacks on peaceful Palestinian protesters, killing more than 100 people.

PressTV-Israel kills dozens of Palestinians on Gaza 'day of rage'

The situation is volatile near the Gaza fence where protesters have gathered ahead of the inauguration of US embassy in Jerusalem al-Quds.

The resolution was adopted by 29 votes. Only two of the council's 47 members, the United States and Australia, voted against it, while 14 abstained, including Britain, Switzerland and Germany.

The UK said it "could not support a resolution that was partial and imbalanced. Such investigations heightened the risk on both sides," calling on Israel to conduct its own independent inquiry into the atrocities instead.

Thornberry's tweeted criticism also came after two Palestinians in Gaza, Mo'in al-Sa'y, 58, and Muhammad Alian, 20, both succumbed to their wounds on Saturday.

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry (File photo)

I'm delighted by the UN's Human Rights Council resolution calling for an urgent independent investigation of Monday's massacre in Gaza, but disgusted that the UK government abstained.
— Emily Thornberry (@EmilyThornberry) May 19, 2018

On Monday, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn also urged the government of Prime Minister Theresa May to take action against Israel’s “slaughter” of Palestinians.

The occupied territories have witnessed new tensions ever since US President Donald Trump on December 6, 2017 announced Washington's recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital.”

At least 65 Palestinians were killed and more than 2,700 others wounded near the Gaza fence on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe), which coincided this year with the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.

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