Palestinians take up flotilla attack with UN rights council

GENEVA - The Palestinian delegation to Geneva asked the UN Human Rights Council Monday to hold a special meeting on the Israeli pre-dawn raid of a flotilla of international political activists bringing aid to the Gaza Strip.

Imad Zuhairi, a Palestinian diplomat, made the request at a plenary, asking for the session to be held Tuesday.

The council’s president, Alex Van Meeuewen, said the request was being taken into consideration.

Earlier, Zuhairi slammed the Israeli raid, calling it a “premeditated attack on civilians.”

“My country strongly condemns the crimes committed by the Israeli authorities, which launched a military attack on a humanitarian convey,” the Palestinian diplomat told the council, which had just opened a regular session.