Entire UN Commission Investigating Israel Resigns

Entire UN commission investigating Israel resigns

Members of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, Navanethem Pillay, Miloon Kothari and Chris Sidoti attend a press briefing at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Oct. 27, 2022. (Photo: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

 An entire UN commission investigating Israel, consisting of three members, have announced their resignations. “I regret to advise that owing to age, medical issues and the weight of several other commitments, I feel compelled to retire as a member of the Commission,” commission chair Navi Pillay wrote in aletter to the President of the UN’s Human Rights Council on July 8. “I hereby submit notice of my resignation with effect on 3 November 2025.”

The other members of the commission, Miloon Kothari and Chris Sodoti, submitted letters of resignation in the subsequent two days.

The commission, titled the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, has been highly critical of Israel, accusing it of several “crimes against humanity.” “The commission found that the crimes against humanity of extermination; murder; gender persecution targeting Palestinian men and boys; forcible transfer; and torture and inhumane and cruel treatment were committed,” its May report said.

While the commission members did not cite Trump administration pressure as a reason for their collective resignation, an organization called the UN Watch argued the resignations were a product of mounting U.S. pressure against the UN over its treatment of Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s decision to sanction the UN official Francesca Albanese was cited by the UN Watch as a reason for the new resignations.

“First, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the historic decision to sanction Francesca Albanese, the UN’s pro-Hamas rapporteur, in wake of a massive campaign led by UN Watch,” said UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer.

“Now the architects of the UN’s anti-Israel inquisition are fleeing the ship. The tide is turning.”

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