By a majority of 40 of its 53 members the United Nations...

By a majority of 40 of its 53 members the United Nations Human Rights Commission approved a Resolution presented by Muslim countries condemning Israeli's intervention in the Palestinian Territories. The UN Commission expressed its serious concern "particularly regarding mass killings perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces". It condemned "serious violations of international humanitarian law by Israel, such as summary executions, the bombing of residential quarters, and indiscriminate killings of men, women and children, as has recently been the case in Palestinian refugee camps". Five countries (Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Czech Republic and Guatemala) voted against the Resolution and seven abstained. France, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Austria and Belgium all supported the Resolution, in order "to send a strong signal to Israel, given the gravity of the situation", according to diplomatic sources. Italy abstained. Germany and the United Kingdom criticised the Resolution for failing to contain a sufficiently explicit condemnation of suicide attacks by Palestinians and its inclusion of unacceptable expressions.