GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — In the wake of the US withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on June 19, Palestinian officials are looking forward to a more efficient European role that would serve the Palestinian cause.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah commented June 20 on the US move during a ceremony held for the national holidays of Europe's Scandinavian countries. The ceremony, attended by officials from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, was held in the city of Ramallah.

“Establishing peace and stability in the region and confronting incitement attempts against the rights of our people requires a strong, effective and unified European role. The European Union is able to place pressure on the occupying state, stop its violations and force it to abide by international resolutions, laws and agreements,” he said.

When US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley announced Washington’s withdrawal from the UNHRC, which was founded in 2006 in support of human rights around the world, she described the council as “hypocritical” and a “cesspool of political bias.”