Israel rejected and Hamas welcomed a decision on Thursday by the UN Human Rights Council to launch an international investigation into crimes that may have been committed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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The Foreign Ministry said the country would not cooperate with the probe, deeming it a bid to "whitewash crimes committed by the terror organization Hamas".
A spokesman for Hamas called its actions "legitimate resistance" and urged "immediate steps to punish" Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the decision, saying the UN has once again shirked its duties to serve as an impartial forum.
"Today's shameful decision is yet another example of the UN Human Rights Council's blatant anti-Israel obsession. Once again, an immoral automatic majority at the council whitewashes a genocidal terrorist organization that deliberately targets Israeli civilians while turning Gaza's civilians into human shields," Netanyahu said. "This while depicting as the 'guilty party' a democracy acting legitimately to protect its citizens from thousands of indiscriminate rocket attacks. This travesty makes a mockery of international law and encourages terrorists worldwide."
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