Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts         

    GENEVA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The top United Nations human rights official has called for an independent investigation into violations of international humanitarian law during the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

    "As a first step, credible, independent and transparent investigations must be carried out to identify violations and establish responsibilities," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Friday at a special session of the U.N. Human Rights Council here.

    The session was called to address "the grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including the recent aggression in the occupied Gaza Strip."

    Violations of international humanitarian law may constitute war crimes "for which individual criminal responsibility may be invoked," Pillay added.

    She also urged Israel and Hamas militants to stop the retaliatory fighting, which is now into its 14th day and has caused massive civilian casualties.

    "The vicious cycle of provocation and retribution must be brought to an end," she said.

    The special session was convened following a request from Egypt, on behalf of the Arab Group and the African Group, Pakistan, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and Cuba, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.