All three members of the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” have resigned, sparking renewed debate over the body’s credibility and longstanding accusations of anti-Israel bias.
The resignations came in a series of letters submitted earlier this month and surfaced publicly on Monday. Navi Pillay, the 83-year-old South African jurist who chaired the commission, cited “age, medical issues, and the weight of several other commitments.” Australian human rights expert Chris Sidoti called it “an appropriate time to reconstitute the commission,” and Miloon Kothari of India simply said it had been “an honor” to serve. Their departure, while not abrupt, signals a turning point for a body that critics have long claimed was fundamentally compromised in its approach.
Established in 2021 by the UN Human Rights Council, the commission was tasked with investigating alleged violations of international law by Israel and Palestinian actors. But its findings have overwhelmingly targeted Israel, prompting condemnation from Jerusalem, Jewish organizations worldwide, and even several Western governments. The body was unprecedented in its mandate, with no set end date, and was the council’s highest level of inquiry.
This is welcomed news indeed. Now let’s see a real gut rehabilitation of the UN Human Rights Council and the rest of the UN’s biased Israel hating agency.