End of Israeli occupation will benefit both sides: UN

GENEVA - Reuters

The top United Nations human rights official called on June 6 for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, saying it would benefit both sides after 50 years of enmity.

Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, in a speech opening a three-week session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, said that the Palestinian people were marking “a half-century of deep suffering under an occupation imposed by military force.”

Israelis also deserve freedom from violence, he said, adding: “Maintain the occupation and for both peoples there will only be a prolongation of immense pain.”

U.N. staff reported on June 5 that 163 Iraqi civilians were shot and killed by Islamic State of Iraqandthe Levant (ISIL) in western Mosul on June 1 “to prevent them from fleeing,” Zeid told the Geneva forum.