Palestinian newspapers on Thursday reported a state of optimism among Palestinian diplomats that the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will pass Gaza war report to the Security Council.

The Geneva-based council has agreed to hold an exceptional session on Thursday and Friday to discuss the UN fact-finding mission's report which accused Israel and Palestinian Hamas movement of serious violations of laws during Israel's winter offensive in Gaza.

On Wednesday, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) submitted a 5-page draft resolution condemning Israel for its violations in December 27 to January 18 Gaza military operation and the Israeli measures in East Jerusalem.

The daily newspapers said that Palestinian and Arab diplomatic missions in Geneva believe that the UNHRC would raise a draft resolution to the Security Council to take actions against Israel and Hamas if they failed to carry out impartial and thorough investigations into the allegations of war crimes.

The reports quoted a senior Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, that the council will pass the draft resolution which mostly condemns Israel and Hamas, the PNA's rival.

"Some members of the council might be absent but the number of members supporting the draft resolution would be bigger than the absentees," the official said.

On October 2, the UNHRC delayed the voting on the report, which was conducted by a team led by Southern African Judge Richard Goldstone, to its next session in March. The decision outraged the Palestinians who sharply criticized their authority for upholding the delay.

Eighteen states from the 47-nation council agreed to hold the exceptional session.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2009)