The top United Nations human rights official called on Tuesday for an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory, saying it would benefit both sides after 50 years of enmity.

Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, in a speech opening a three-week session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, said that the Palestinian people were marking "a half-century of deep suffering under an occupation imposed by military force".

Israelis also deserve freedom from violence, he said, adding: "Maintain the occupation and for both peoples there will only be a prolongation of immense pain."

Israeli clampdown on a wave of Palestinian protests in late 2015 against illegal settlements in east Jerusalem and attacks on Aqsa mosque left 267 Palestinians dead.

Palestinian attacks left 41 Israelis, two Americans, two Jordanians, an Eritrean, a Sudanese and a Briton dead.

The violence has subsided in recent months.

*The story has been edited by Ahram Online