NEW YORK, November 4, 2008 (WAFA)- United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) dedicated its sixth special session to human rights violations emanating from Israeli military attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, according to the Human Rights Council report.

According to the report, published on October 31, the Council had been seized with global events that constituted serious human rights violations. As such, it had dedicated numerous special sessions to some of those situations, including “the human rights violations emanating from Israeli military attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.

President of the Council, Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi asked that the United Nations General Assembly to pay special attention to a resolution on human rights violations emanating from Israeli military attacks in the occupied Palestinian Territory, and a decision to strengthen the Human Rights Council.

Mr. Uhomoibhi also drew attention to the fact that the Council had been seized with events in some parts of the world that constitute serious human rights violations. As such, the Council had dedicated its sixth special session to human rights violations emanating from Israeli military attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Turning then to the ninth session, which had concluded in September 2008, he highlighted texts that required urgent consideration by the General Assembly. In particular, he noted resolution 9/18 on human rights violations emanating from Israeli military attacks in the occupied Palestinian Territory, which recommended that the report of the fact-finding mission be considered by the General Assembly.

Furthermore, he stated that, “the United States rejected any criticism of Israel and used its veto power to protect the tyrannical authority of Israel, which violated the rights of Palestinians.” He explained that the United States did not take a responsible position against the occupation of the Palestinian people, who were subject to massacre and deprived of their dignity and human rights saying, “the United States Government would always adopt an agenda item on not criticizing Israel.” He asked for the United States to open the doors to Guantanamo Bay, so the world would know what was happening there. In fact, they should close down the prisons at Guantanamo Bay and release the prisoners.

'2007-2008 marked the achievement of the institutional renewal of the United Nations human rights machinery' and was a fruitful period for the institution-building of the Human Rights Council, said Mr. Uhomoibhi, speaking to the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), as it took up the report of the Council.