The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution calling for an end to arms sales to Israel. The resolution, passed on Friday, also calls for bringing Israel to justice for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The resolution— which passed with 28 of the council's 47 member states voting in favour including Bangladesh, six opposed and 13 abstaining—  marked the first time the United Nations' top rights body has taken a position on the bloodiest-ever war in the besieged Palestinian territory, reports AFP.

The strongly worded text called on countries to "cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel... to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights".

It noted that the International Court of Justice ruled in January "that there is a plausible risk of genocide" in Gaza.

Friday's resolution, which was brought forward by Pakistan on behalf of all Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states except Albania, also called for "an immediate ceasefire" and "for immediate emergency humanitarian access and assistance".

Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque