Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said, Monday, that Israel's decision to sever ties with the United Nations Human Rights Council is "anotherextortionattemptofZionismtoinfluence decisionsthat will allowthe occupationto continue tocarry outwar crimes andcrimes against humanityandagainstthe Palestinian people," according to the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency. Israel took the action in response to a council decision to investigate the impact of Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem on the rights of area Arabs.
Barhoumsaid, the decisiongivesfurther proofthat those Arabs areoppressed.