Latest news with #ChrisSidoti
New Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
UN Palestine Inquiry members resign as US sanctions rapporteur
ANKARA: Three members of the United Nations (UN) Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory have suddenly resigned, citing personal reasons, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Navi Pillay, Chris Sidoti and Miloon Kothari submitted their resignations on Monday. The commissioners believed the body required renewal and referred to personal factors such as age as part of their decision to leave, according to the Council. The commission was established to examine alleged violations of international law in the occupied territories, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The resignations come amid heightened tensions between the UN and the United States (US) over the conduct of Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories. The US imposed sanctions on Albanese for promoting "antisemitic" and "anti-Israel" rhetoric and urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to act against the US and Israel. The US had previously demanded her dismissal. In a statement on July 1, the US warned that failure to act would damage the UN's credibility and prompt US action. The UN's Special Procedures Committee condemned the sanctions, calling the US move unacceptable. – Bernama-Anadolu
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Former UN rights chief Navi Pillay quits Israel-Palestine probe
Navi Pillay, the former UN human rights chief who has headed the world body's Commission of Inquiry into the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel since 2021, has resigned. Ms Pillay, a South African jurist, said in a letter made public on Monday that her resignation, effective on November 3, was due to 'age, medical issues and the weight of several other commitments'. Two other team experts, Chris Sidoti of Australia and Miloon Kothari of India, also stepped down. Their resignation letters, addressed to the president of the Human Rights Council, were sent last week. The resignation of the three-member panel comes amid mounting political pressure, including recent US sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump 's administration on Francesca Albanese, a Human Rights Council-appointed expert who has publicly condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza. Ms Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, called on July 9 for an arms embargo and the severing of trade ties with Israel, accusing it of conducting a 'genocidal campaign' in Gaza. Israel has refused to co-operate with the commission, denying its members entry and repeatedly rejecting their findings as biased. The Commission of Inquiry, established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2021, has no prosecutorial powers but is tasked with documenting abuses and preserving evidence that could be used by international judicial bodies such as the International Criminal Court.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
UN-backed team focusing on human rights in Palestinian areas announce resignations
A team of three independent experts working for the UN's top human rights body with a focus on Israel and Palestinian areas say they are resigning, citing personal reasons and a need for change. The resignations, announced Monday by the UN-backed Human Rights Council that set up the team, come as violence continues in Palestinian areas and few signs of a letup in the Israeli military campaign against Hamas and other terrorists behind the Oct. 7 attacks. The Israeli government has repeatedly criticized the panel of experts, known as the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, and denied their repeated requests to travel to the region or otherwise cooperate with the team. Navi Pillay, a former UN human rights chief who has led the commission for the last four years, said in a letter to the council president that she was resigning effective Nov. 3 because of age, medical issues, and the weight of several other commitments. Team member Chris Sidoti said Pillay's retirement marked an appropriate time to re-constitute the commission and that he was resigning on that same date to facilitate that re-constitution. The third member, Miloon Kothari, did not provide his reasons in a letter announcing his resignation effective Oct. 31. Neither the independent experts nor the council have any power over countries but aim to spotlight rights abuses and collect information about suspected perpetrators that could be used by the International Criminal Court or other courts focusing on international justice. The letters were sent to the council president last week but only became public Monday. Last week, the US government announced sanctions against another independent expert mandated by the council, Francesca Albanese, who has also focused on Israel and the Palestinians. Albanese has accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinians, a claim Israel has denied. Albanese said in an interview last week with The Associated Press that she was shocked by the US decision. She has not resigned.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
UN-backed team focusing on human rights in Palestinian areas announce resignations
A team of three independent experts working for the U.N.'s top human rights body with a focus on Israel and Palestinian areas say they are resigning, citing personal reasons and a need for change. The resignations, announced Monday by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council that set up the team, come as violence continues in Palestinian areas and few signs of letup in the Israeli military campaign against Hamas and other militants behind the Oct. 7 attacks. The Israeli government has repeatedly criticized the panel of experts, known as the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, and denied their repeated requests to travel to the region or otherwise cooperate with the team. Navi Pillay, a former U.N. human rights chief who has led the commission for the last four years, said in a letter to the council president that she was resigning effective Nov. 3 because of 'age, medical issues and the weight of several other commitments.' Team member Chris Sidoti said Pillay's retirement marked 'an appropriate time to re-constitute the commission' and that he was resigning on that same date 'to facilitate that re-constitution.' The third member, Miloon Kothari, did not provide his reasons in a letter announcing his resignation effective 0ct. 31. Neither the independent experts nor the council have any power over countries, but aim to spotlight rights abuses and collect information about suspected perpetrators that could be used by the International Criminal Court or other courts focusing on international justice. The letters were sent to the council president last week but only became public Monday. Last week, the U.S. government announced sanctions against another independent expert mandated by the council, Francesca Albanese, who has also focused on Israel and the Palestinians. Albanese has accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinians, a claim Israel has denied. Albanese said in an interview last week with The Associated Press that she was shocked by the U.S. decision. She has not resigned.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
UN-backed team focusing on human rights in Palestinian areas announce resignations
GENEVA (AP) — A team of three independent experts working for the U.N.'s top human rights body with a focus on Israel and Palestinian areas say they are resigning, citing personal reasons and a need for change. The resignations, announced Monday by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council that set up the team, come as violence continues in Palestinian areas and few signs of letup in the Israeli military campaign against Hamas and other militants behind the Oct. 7 attacks. The Israeli government has repeatedly criticized the panel of experts, known as the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, and denied their repeated requests to travel to the region or otherwise cooperate with the team. Navi Pillay, a former U.N. human rights chief who has led the commission for the last four years, said in a letter to the council president that she was resigning effective Nov. 3 because of 'age, medical issues and the weight of several other commitments.' Team member Chris Sidoti said Pillay's retirement marked 'an appropriate time to re-constitute the commission' and that he was resigning on that same date 'to facilitate that re-constitution.' The third member, Miloon Kothari, did not provide his reasons in a letter announcing his resignation effective 0ct. 31. Neither the independent experts nor the council have any power over countries, but aim to spotlight rights abuses and collect information about suspected perpetrators that could be used by the International Criminal Court or other courts focusing on international justice. The letters were sent to the council president last week but only became public Monday. Last week, the U.S. government announced sanctions against another independent expert mandated by the council, Francesca Albanese, who has also focused on Israel and the Palestinians. Albanese has accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinians, a claim Israel has denied. Albanese said in an interview last week with The Associated Press that she was shocked by the U.S. decision. She has not resigned.
