Israeli security forces may have committed war crimes in their crackdown on Palestinian protests last year that left nearly 200 dead, the United Nations has said.

“The Israeli security forces killed and maimed Palestinian demonstrators who did not pose an imminent threat of death or serious injury to others when they were shot, nor were they directly participating in hostilities,” an inquiry by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) found.

Some 189 Palestinians were killed and more than 6,100 wounded during clashes in Gaza in 2018.

Protesters used the demonstrations to call for the easing of an Israeli blockade of the territory and recognition of the right of Palestinian refugees there to return to homes in Israel.

Santiago Canton, chair of the UN commission of inquiry into the protests, said it had “reasonable grounds to believe” that Israeli soldiers “committed violations of international human rights and humanitarian law”.

Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Show all 23 1 /23 Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A ball of fire above the building housing the Hamas-run television station al-Aqsa TV in the Gaza Strip during an Israeli air strike AFP/Getty Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Israeli Iron Dome anti-missile systems firing toward missiles fired from the Gaza Strip near the southern city of Sderot, Israel. Israeli army report that approximately 300 missile launches were identified from the Gaza strip toward Israel. Dozens of launches were intercepted by the Iron Dome aerial defense system EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Israeli soldiers take cover near the Israel Gaza border AP Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A bus set ablaze after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip. Israel's military said it was carrying out air strikes "throughout the Gaza Strip" on Monday after rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave towards its territory AFP/Getty Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Palestinians inspect a rubble of a destroyed internal security building of Hamas interior ministry after Israeli air strike in Gaza City EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A Palestinian girl walks up the stairs of her family house that was damaged in an Israeli air strike REUTERS Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Fire and smoke billow following Israeli air strikes targeting Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, near the border with Egypt AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Missiles from Israel's Iron Dome air defence system in the south of Israel destroy incoming missiles AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Israeli security forces and firefighters gather near abuilding set ablaze after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli town of Sderot AFP/Getty Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures epa07162276 A Palestinian girl stands between the rubble of her family house close a destroyed building of Al-Aqsa channel belonging to Hamas movement after Israeli air strike in Gaza City, 13 November 2018. According to reports, Palestinian militants fired 300 rockets and mortars at Israel from the Gaza Strip. The Israel army responded with strikes on what it said were targets belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER MOHAMMED SABER EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A picture taken on November 12, 2018 shows a ball of fire above the building housing the Hamas-run television station al-Aqsa TV in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike. - Israel's military said it was carrying out air strikes "throughout the Gaza Strip" after rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave towards its territory. (Photo by Bashar TALEB / AFP)BASHAR TALEB/AFP/Getty Images BASHAR TALEB AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A ruble of a destroyed building of Al-Aqsa channel belonging to Hamas movement EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Israeli security forces and firefighters gather near a bus set ablaze after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave AFP Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Relatives of Mohammed Ouda, killed in an Israeli air stike the previous day, mourn during his funeral in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Missiles from Israel's Iron Dome air defence system in the south of Israel destroy incoming missiles fired at Israel from the Palestinian enclave AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Israeli soldiers sit atop a Merkava tank stationed along the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Black smoke rises as an Israeli airstrike hits a residential building in Gaza City AP Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Palestinians look out of their house that was damaged in an Israeli air strike REUTERS Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Palestinians hold placards and the Palestinian flag during a protest in solidarity with Gaza, in the West Bank city of Hebron EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures An Israeli policeman inspects the damage in a building caused a day earlier by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon AFP/Getty Images Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A Palestinian boy inspects the rubble of a destroyed residential building after Israeli air strike in Gaza City EPA Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures A man stands inside a house damaged by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip overnight, in the Israeli city of Ashkelon November 13, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY RONEN ZVULUN REUTERS Gaza crisis: heavy cross-border fire in pictures Palestinians survey a destroyed residential building hit by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) Hatem Moussa AP

He added: “Some of those violations may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity, and must be immediately investigated by Israel.”

Israel, which claimed the protests were used to mask “terror activities” by Palestinian armed groups, dismissed the report and branded the UNHRC as a “theatre of the absurd”.

The country’s acting foreign minister, Israel Katz, said the UN had “produced another hostile, mendacious and slanted report against the State of Israel”.

However the commission said Israeli authorities ignored repeated requests for information and access to both Israel and Gaza.

Palestinian protesters demonstrate near the border with Israel in the northern Gaza Strip last October (Getty)

The investigation focused specifically on demonstrations in the Gaza Strip – referred to as the Great March of Return – which began on 30 March last year.

It found that of the 189 Palestinian deaths, 183 were attributable to Israeli Security Forces.

Thirty-five of these fatalities were said to be children, three were clearly marked paramedics and two were clearly marked journalists.

While those injured by live ammunition numbered 6,106, the commission said a further 3,098 were wounded by bullet fragmentation, rubber-coated metal bullets or by hits from teargas canisters.

The commission said it had reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli snipers shot at journalists, health workers, children and persons with disabilities despite knowing they were clearly recognisable as not being directly involved in the protest.

But it also blamed Hamas for encouraging or defending use of “indiscriminate incendiary kites and balloons, causing fear among civilians and significant damage to property in southern Israel”.

Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border Show all 10 1 /10 Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border Palestinian protesters burn tires during a demonstration on the Israel border on February 22 2019 AFP/Getty Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border Palestinian protesters run through smoke from tear gas and burning tires during a demonstration near the fence along the border with Israel on February 22 2019 AFP/Getty Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border Palestinian protesters climb the fence along the border with Israel during a demonstration AFP/Getty Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border Palestinian protesters holding national flags walk past burning tires during a demonstration on the Israel border AFP/Getty Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border A Palestinian protester wears a head band as he takes part in a demonstration near the fence along the border with Israel, east of Gaza City on February 22 2019 AFP/Getty Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border Palestinian protesters and a medic run to pick up a child during a demonstration near the fence along the border with Israel on February 22 2019 AFP/Getty Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border Palestinian protesters run through smoke from tear gas and burning tires during a demonstration near the fence along the border with Israel on February 22 2019 AFP/Getty Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border A man carries the Palestinian flag during a demonstration near the border fence with Israel AFP/Getty Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border A Palestinian protester wears a mask painted in the colours of the national flag during a demonstration on the Israel border AFP/Getty Palestinian protesters light fires along the Israel border A Palestinian protester returns a tear gas canister thrown by Israeli troops during a demonstration on the border AFP/Getty

Israel has consistently defended its use of force as a means of self-defence, pointing to rocket attacks on its citizens in towns close to the Gaza border.

Yet despite some acts of significant violence and Israeli claims of terrorism, the commission found that the demonstrations were civilian in nature and did not constitute military campaigns.

“The onus is now on Israel to investigate every protest-related killing and injury, promptly, impartially and independently in accordance with international standards, to determine whether war crimes or crimes against humanity were committed, with a view to holding accountable those found responsible,” Mr Canton said.

“We also urge the organisers, the demonstrators, and the de facto authorities in Gaza, to ensure that the Great March of Return is entirely peaceful, as it is intended to be.”

Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, should share the findings with the International Criminal Court, investigators said.

The Hague-based court opened a preliminary investigation into allegations of Israeli human rights abuses on Palestinian territory in 2015.

The new UN report’s findings were based on interviews with more than 300 victims and witnesses and 8,000 pieces of evidence, including drone footage.