RAMALLAH/GAZA: Palestinians welcomed the UN Human Rights Council endorsement on Friday of a damning report accusing both Israel and Hamas of war crimes during the Gaza conflict.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his hope that the “UN Human Rights Council’s decision to adopt the Goldstone Report will turn into a leverage for protecting the Palestinians against Israel.” Abbas’ spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdaineh said that the Palestinian president welcomed the vote, saying it proved that the world supports the Palestinians’ rights.
In Gaza, Hamas also approved the move.
“The Palestinian government welcomes the endorsement on the Goldstone report, and thanks the friendly countries which voted in favor of the report,” Taher Al-Nono, a spokesman of the deposed Hamas government said in a statement. “The vote is a victory for the Palestinian rights, and it will constitute a first step in prosecuting the Israeli war criminals,” he added.
— With input from Mohammad Mar’i
