Geneva: Israel again faced condemnation on Thursday before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva for its latest attacks on the Palestinian territories.

Pakistan on behalf of the countries belonging to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, OIC, sought a resolution condemning Israel's military offensives particularly the most recent in Gaza in which 125 people were killed and for "grave violations" of human rights laws.

Israel has already been singled out for official censure three times for its actions in Gaza in the two years since the council was founded. Israel said Thursday's resolution was similar to the one put before the sixth special session in January which it had said bore "no relation to the facts on the ground".

Slovenia, speaking on behalf of the European states, said the European Union also condemned the indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israel's civilian areas and was deeply alarmed by the recent Israeli military operations that endangered the lives of Palestinian civilians.

The resolution is expected to undergo several amendments but the majority of the 47 member states are expected to pass it with Europe backing calls for a more balanced version condemning human rights violations by both parties.

Source : IANS