Hamas hails UN war crime probe of Israel's Gaza massacre

Hamas has hailed a UN decision to send a team of war crimes investigators to probe the massacre of Palestinian protesters by Israeli forces.

The Islamist movement that runs the besieged Gaza Strip praised the move in a statement on Saturday.

"The Movement also considers this decision… an important step to exposing the reality of the occupation," the statement said.

It added that the investigation would help expose "the extent of the injustice that has befallen the Palestinian people and the ongoing crimes and violations committed by Israel".

Israeli forces killed at least 62 Palestinians on Monday, when thousands protested as the US officially moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Since March 30, Palestinians have been marching to demand the right to return to their homes in territory seized by Israel in the 1948 war surrounding the creation of the Jewish state.

They have also protested against the crippling blockade of the Palestinian enclave.

Israeli troops have shot dead a total of 119 Palestinians on the border between the Gaza Strip and the Jewish State. No Israelis have been killed during the protests.

On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council voted to send a team of international war crimes investigators to probe the deadly shootings.

Israel has come under international pressure over the massacre.

UN human rights chief has slammed Israel's deadly reaction to the protests as "wholly disproportionate".

"The stark contrast in casualties on both sides is ... suggestive of a wholly disproportionate response," Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said.

Many of the Palestinians injured and killed "were completely unarmed, (and) were shot in the back, in the chest, in the head and limbs with live ammunition," he added.

Israel has rejected criticism and blamed Hamas for the protester deaths.