Explanation of vote by Bulgaria on the resolution to create the Commission of Inquiry at the special session of the Human Rights Council

"As already stated, Bulgaria deeply regrets the loss of life, both on the Palestinian and Israeli sides as a consequence of the recent hostilities. We also believe that effective prevention of similar escalations of violence in the future is only possible following an agreed political solution, bringing sustainable peace, and ending for once and all the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

We are not convinced that this objective would be served through the establishment of yet another international investigative mechanism, with insufficiently defined scope, territorial limits, and time frame of its activities, and which moreover, is not mandated to comprehensively investigate the violations by all perpetrators responsible for the recent escalation, including the deliberate targeting with massive rocket fire of civilians and civilian infrastructure by Hamas and other terrorist organizations. That is why Bulgaria will vote no on the proposed resolution…"