The United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday endorsed the controversial Goldstone report, which accuses both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes during last winter’s conflict in Gaza, and referred it to the UN Security Council. In a special session, 25 of the body's 47 members – including Argentina, Brazil. China, and Russia – voted in favor of a resolution co-sponsored by the Palestinian Authority and several Islamic states. Six council members – Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Ukraine and the United States – voted against, and eleven – Belgium, Bosnia, Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Japan, Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Slovenia and Uruguay – abstained.

The report calls for the Security Council to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court if the Israelis or Palestinians fail to investigate the alleged abuses themselves. Deputy US Ambassador to the United Nations, Alejandro Wolff, called the resolution "regrettable," and one that went "beyond the scope of the Goldstone report." He said the text voted by the Human Rights Council contained elements that should be "discussed within a final status agreement," including the status of Jerusalem. Wolff said the Goldstone report had failed to deal adequately with the asymmetrical nature of the confrontation, and the adoption of the resolution could only postpone a lasting peace and deepen the divide between Israel and Palestine.

Although the Goldstone report also accuses Hamas of war crimes, the five-page resolution voted by the Human Rights Council makes only explicit mention of alleged Israeli violations of international law.

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