Gaza’s viability at stake, U.N. rights envoy says

By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) – A United Nations human rights investigator accused Israel on Monday of imposing collective punishment on 1.75 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and said that the enclave’s viability was at stake. Both Israel and its close ally the United States boycotted the debate at the Human Rights Council where Richard Falk presented his latest report. It also calls for an inquiry into alleged torture of Palestinian detainees in Israel’s custody. “Forty-six years ago today Israel’s occupation of Palestine began. …