UNHRC chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein
UNHRC chief Zeid Ra'ad Al HusseinReuters

Israel has slammed the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) for "using the murder of Israelis to attack Israel," accusing it of "cynicism and double standards" in its response to Wednesday night's deadly Palestinian terrorist attack in Tel Aviv.

In a message given during a press briefing earlier Friday, United Nations rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein's office issued a mild condemnation of the attack itself, but then went on to say that he was "deeply concerned" by Israel's response.

The Jewish state's reaction "includes measures that may amount to prohibited collective punishment and will only increase the sense of injustice and frustration felt by Palestinians in this very tense time," the statement said. In response to the attack, the IDF has sealed off the town of Yatta near Hevron where the terrorists are from.

In response, Israel's UN Embassy accused the UNHRC of "break(ing) a new record of cynicism and double standards."

"The OHCHR is using the murder of innocent Israelis to attack Israel. Once again, instead of putting itself by the side of the Israeli victims, it settles for a forced, weak condemnation, and rushes to defend the terrorists.

"Like any other country in the same situation, Israel is taking legitimate steps in order to defend its citizens from terrorists who are backed by the incitement and the glorification of death and martyrdom, inflated by the Palestinian leadership and society."

"The OHCHR should take another look at the current situation in the Middle East, so it may understand the absurdity of its own statement," it continued, while emphasizing, "Israel will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect its citizens."