The UN Human Rights Council has launched a probe into the Gaza offensive, backing calls by the Palestinians to hold Israel to account, despite fierce opposition from the Jewish state.
The decision came after a marathon seven-hour emergency session of the top UN human rights body, where the Israelis and the Palestinians traded accusations over war crimes.
The 46-member council on Wednesday backed a Palestinian-drafted resolution by 29 votes, with Arab and fellow Muslim countries joined by China and Russia, plus Latin American and African nations.
The United States was the sole member to vote against, while the 17 abstentions were by the council's European members, plus Japan and South Korea.
The probe team, yet to be appointed, is tasked with reporting back to the council by March.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's media office slammed it as a "travesty" that ignored violations by Palestinian Hamas Islamists.
"This investigation by a kangaroo court is a foregone conclusion," his office said.
US ambassador Keith Harper warned the vote would undermine ceasefire efforts.
"This resolution is not constructive, it is destructive," Harper said, noting it lacked "any semblance of balance" because it made no mention of Hamas' attacks.
Speaking for the European Union, Italian ambassador Maurizio Serra also criticised the failure to mention Hamas or recognise Israel's right to self-defence, despite last-ditch efforts by his team to have such language included.
The session was called by Arab nations and fellow members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
The council's membership rotates, and Israel is not currently part of the UN body. Non-members cannot vote but are entitled to speak.
Israeli ambassador Eviator Manor lashed out at countries that piloted the vote, arguing their reaction against Israel, diverted attention from their own human rights violations.
"Hamas is committing war crimes when it fires rockets indiscriminately at Israel towns and villages. Hamas is protecting its launching sites with the civilian residents of Gaza. Another war crime," he said.
But Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki hit back, labelling Israel's actions "a crime against humanity".
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay also said Israel's military actions could amount to war crimes, while at the same time condemning indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas.
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