If deemed disproportionate, the Israeli state's raids on Gaza could be considered war crimes. This is what Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, argued during an extraordinary session of the Human Rights Council.

"No evidence on the military nature of the targets struck"

Her words come more than a week after Israel and Palestine accepted a ceasefire that temporarily brought an end to an eleven-day conflict. More than 250 Palestinian casualties have been confirmed, more than a third of whom are children, and almost two thousand people have been wounded. In Israel, twelve people died, including two children.

"Even though they were meant to strike members of armed groups and military infrastructure, the Israeli attacks have caused civilian casualties and have destroyed or damaged civilian buildings," Bachelet stated, highlighting how government buildings, residential homes, the premises of humanitarian organisations, medical facilities and press offices had been repeatedly struck within the Palestinian enclave, which UN envoy John Holmes described as "an enormous open-air prison".

"Despite Israel's claim that these buildings housed armed groups and were used for military purposes, we have not yet seen evidence to that effect," Bachelet added. "There is no doubt that Israel has every right to defend its citizens, but Palestinians also have rights. The same rights."

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"There is no doubt that #Israel has the right to defend its citizens and residents. However, #Palestinians have rights too. The same rights." – UN Human Rights Chief @mbachelet tells @UN_HRC #SS30.

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However, according to the High Commissioner, Hamas rockets have also struck "indiscriminately and fail to distinguish between military and civilian targets. Their use therefore constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law." In the High Commissioner's view, the actions of one party do not absolve the other of its obligations under international law.

Read also:

• La Striscia di Gaza attaccata da Israele. Numerosi i morti
• Nuovo raid israeliano a Gaza, quasi 200 morti dall'inizio del conflitto
• Gaza, nuovi raid israeliani. Gli Stati Uniti paralizzano le Nazioni Unite

An international inquiry into the conflict gets under way to verify possible war crimes

The extraordinary session was intended to launch an international commission of inquiry to establish human rights violations in Palestinian and Israeli territories and investigate the causes of the conflict. "Unless the root causes of the clashes are addressed, it will surely be a matter of time before the next round of violence begins, bringing further pain and suffering to civilians on all sides," Bachelet stated. The resolution passed with 24 votes in favour, 9 against and 14 abstentions; it now calls on states to avoid "transferring" weapons when there is a "concrete risk" that they will be used to commit serious human rights violations. According to the news agency Associated Press, the move is aimed at countries that send weapons and ammunition to Israel.

The reactions from the two states were diametrically opposed. The Palestinian authorities welcomed the resolution, stating that it represents a "formal recognition of the oppression and systematic discrimination perpetuated by Israel against the people of Palestine" and that "this reality of apartheid and impunity can no longer be ignored".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, by contrast, called the Council's decision "shameful" and "another example of the absurd anti-Israeli obsession on the part of the United Nations." According to Netanyahu, "this travesty makes a mockery of international law and encourages terrorists around the world".