West Asia News Live: Syria captures headlines as regional shifts come open after Israel airstrikes

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July 18, 2025, 07:15:08 (IST) Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Israel demands UN scrap investigation body for Palestinian territories
Israel has officially demanded the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) abolish its commission of inquiry into rights violations in the Palestinian territories and Israel, according to a report in Reuters. In a letter, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Daniel Meron, accused the body of inherent discrimination. This diplomatic manoeuvre heightens geopolitical tensions in West Asia and carries significant implications for international legal frameworks. The move is viewed as part of a broader strategy by Israel to counter mounting international legal pressure, which includes an ongoing genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and intense scrutiny over its military operations in Gaza. A successful bid to scrap the commission could ease this pressure, but failure risks deepening Israel's diplomatic isolation. For the Palestinians, the commission's dissolution would remove a key mechanism for pursuing international accountability. The challenge to the UNHRC's authority could also establish a precedent, potentially weakening global human rights oversight and creating uncertainty for investors who weigh geopolitical risk and the stability of international law.