European nations abstained on a U.N. Human Rights Council vote blasting Israel over the Gaza blockade.
The resolution, adopted by a vote of 30-1 in Geneva, called for “urgent international action to put an immediate end to the grave violations committed by the occupying power, Israel, in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
Canada cast the sole opposing vote on the resolution, while 15 other countries abstained. China and Russia both backed the resolution.
Slovenia, speaking for the European Union, said the resolution lacked “an acknowledgment of civilian casualties on both sides.”
The Human Rights Council and its predecessor, the U.N. Human Rights Commission, both have been dismissed by Jewish human rights groups as a farce that disproportionately and unfairly targets Israel.
U.S. Ambassador Warren Tichenor said the council had “squandered its credibility” by failing to address continued rocket attacks against Israel.
“Today’s actions do nothing to help the Palestinian people, in whose name the supporters of this session claim to act,” he said in a statement.
