Latest news with #Palestinianterritories
Malay Mail
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
UN rights commission on Israel-Palestine to be renewed as all three members resign
GENEVA, July 15 — The three members of a United Nations commission charged with investigating human rights abuses in Israel and the Palestinian territories have resigned, saying it is time to renew the body, a UN spokesperson said yesterday. The three-person commission was created in 2021 and has been sharply criticized by Israel. South Africa's Navi Pillay, 83, who once headed the international tribunal for Rwanda, cited her age in a letter announcing her resignation. Australia's Chris Sidoti, 74, said in his letter it was an 'appropriate time' to renew the commission, while India's Miloon Kothari, in his late 60s, just said it had been 'an honour' to serve. Jurg Lauber, the head of the UN's Human Rights Council, asked the council's member states to propose new members by August 31. — AFP pic
CTV News
a day ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Three members of UN commission on Israel resign
This photo, provided by an American contractor on condition of anonymity because they were revealing their employers' internal operations, shows a woman slumped over in a donkey cart after the contractor said she was hit in the head with part of a stun grenade at a food distribution site in Gaza run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in June 2025. (AP Photo) The three members of a United Nations commission charged with investigating human rights abuses in Israel and the Palestinian territories have resigned, saying it is time to renew the body, a UN spokesperson said Monday. The three-person commission was created in 2021 and has been sharply criticized by Israel. South Africa's Navi Pillay, 83, who once headed the international tribunal for Rwanda, cited her age in a letter announcing her resignation. Australia's Chris Sidoti, 74, said in his letter it was an 'appropriate time' to renew the commission, while India's Miloon Kothari, in his late 60s, just said it had been 'an honour' to serve. Jurg Lauber, the head of the UN's Human Rights Council, asked the council's member states to propose new members by August 31.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
EU "deeply regrets" U.S. sanctions on UN expert on Palestinians, says EU spokesperson
BRUSSELS, July 11 (Reuters) - The European Union "deeply regrets" the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, an EU spokesperson said on Friday. "We deeply regret the decision to impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese", spokesperson Anouar El Anouni told reporters during a daily EU briefing, adding that the European Union "strongly supports the United Nations human rights system." On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Albanese would be added to the U.S. sanctions list for work which had prompted what he described as illegitimate prosecutions of Israelis at the International Criminal Court. Albanese has been a vocal critic of Israel's treatment of Palestinians, and recently published a report accusing over 60 companies, including some U.S. firms, of supporting Israeli settlements in the West Bank and military actions in Gaza.
UAE Moments
4 days ago
- Politics
- UAE Moments
US Sanctions Francesca Albanese for Her Advocacy for Gaza
In a significant escalation of tensions, the United States under the Trump administration has imposed targeted sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the West Bank. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced punitive measures on Wednesday, July 9. Albanese has also received a designation as a 'Specially Designated National', barring U.S. individuals and organizations from doing business with her. Trump's ICC decree includes a sset freezes and a U.S. entry ban for the individuals and their immediate family. Authorities assert the sanctions stem from Albanese's advocacy at the International Criminal Court (ICC) urging investigations of Israeli and U.S. officials, which they deemed a threat to national sovereignty and a campaign of political and economic aggression. Albanese firmly rejected the sanctions, likening the action to 'mafia-style intimidation techniques' directed at silencing human rights scrutiny. She re-emphasized, "I stand firmly and convincingly on the side of justice, as I have always done.' United Nations officials, including Human Rights Council President Jürg Lauber and OHCHR chief Volker Türk, condemned the sanctions, calling them a dangerous precedent that undermines the independence of UN mandate holders and international human rights systems. Amnesty International's Secretary-General Agnès Callamard condemned the move as a 'shameless and transparent attack on the fundamental principles of international justice.' She urged member states to mobilize diplomatically to reverse the sanctions and protect UN mechanisms. This article was previously published on omanmoments. To see the original article, click here
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Government effort to ban occupied territories trade gets EU boost
The Government 's plan to ban trade from illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories has been given a boost by senior European Union officials, as one option national governments could consider taking to put pressure on Israel . The proposed Occupied Territories Bill is expected to be put before the Dáil in the autumn. The legislation would prohibit trading with companies operating in illegal settlements in the West Bank and other occupied territories. Now a new paper from the EU's diplomatic corps has raised the possibility of national governments blocking Israeli trade from occupied territories without needing to wait for unanimous agreement at EU level. The document, seen by The Irish Times, sets out various options the EU or its member states could take to put pressure on Israel, which foreign ministers will discuss during a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. READ MORE Critics of Ireland's Occupied Territories Bill had previously argued it would breach EU law, as the European Commission has responsibility for the bloc's trade policy. Recent advice from the Attorney General, however, gave the Government confidence it has grounds to move ahead with the draft law. [ At least 798 people killed while receiving aid in Gaza, UN says Opens in new window ] The new paper from the EU's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, is expected to give further cover to the Government's proposed legislation. The document said the EU had the option of banning imports from settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, if it had the backing of all 27 countries. An 'alternative' would be governments deciding to ban trade coming from the settlements at national level, it said. Officials suggested this would not need EU sign-off, but that some debate about the 'permissibility' of such moves might have to take place between capitals first. Conor O'Neill, head of policy at Christian Aid, said the EU's reference to domestic laws banning trade with Israeli settlements was a 'really significant shift'. Mr O'Neill, who helped draft the Opposition's initial version of the Occupied Territories Bill, said 'for the first time the EU has recognised that individual member states may ban trade with Israel's illegal settlements'. The Bill was first put on the table by Independent senator Frances Black in 2018, but was stalled by previous governments. Growing pressure to do more during Israel's 21-month bombardment of Gaza saw the Government commit to taking up the legislation. A revised version of the draft law is now making its way through the Oireachtas. The EU paper said the union could also consider suspending its 'association agreement' that governs EU-Israel relations, or shelve a free trade deal Israel enjoys as part of the agreement. The paper was circulated to diplomats from each EU state on Thursday. Other possible options on the table are to put economic sanctions on Israeli politicians, an embargo on weapons sales to Israel and cutting off Israel's access to research funding schemes. EU foreign ministers will discuss the proposals next week, but it is unlikely there will be a decision taken to pursue any of the options, given most would need the unanimous support of all 27 capitals. Germany, Austria Hungary, and the Czech Republic have consistently blocked the EU penalising Israel for its conduct during the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians. Ms Kallas, who chairs the meetings of foreign ministers, was directed to draw up a list of possible ways the EU could pressure Israel, to improve the dire conditions on the ground in Gaza. In a bid to avoid possible sanctions, this week Israel gave the EU commitments it would allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
