Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has indicated Labor would have split from the US and backed a United Nations investigation into the killing of dozens of Palestinians in Gaza, arguing Israel's actions were damaging the country's reputation.

He demanded the Turnbull government explain why it joined the US as the only two countries to oppose the establishment of an investigation into why 62 Palestinians were killed on Monday by Israeli forces responding to Palestinian protests.

The vote of the United Nations Human Rights Council at the weekend was ultimately supported by 29 of 47 member states, with 14 others abstaining including Britain, Japan and Germany.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia opposed the investigation because the wording of the resolution prejudiced the outcome and did not refer to the role of Hamas, the militant Islamist group which controls the Gaza Strip.