Latest news with #UN-mandated
Leaders
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
Israel Declines Visa Extension for Top UN Humanitarian Official
A UN spokesperson unveiled on Friday that Israel has refused to renew the visa for Jonathan Whittall, the senior UN aid official for the occupied Palestinian territories, according to The Washington Post. Eri Kaneko also noted that there were growing threats of reduced access to suffering civilians. 'Last week, it was indicated to us that our current Head of Office, Jonathan Whittall, won't have his visa extended by Israeli authorities beyond August. This came immediately after remarks he made at a press briefing about starving people being killed while trying to reach food,' Kaneko said. He added that Isarel has recently renewed visas for UN staff for shorter periods than usual. Meanwhile, it denied access requests to Gaza for multiple agencies. Moreover, Israel withheld permits for Palestinian staff to enter East Jerusalem. Israel has been under growing criticism from the UN during its war in Gaza that has internally displaced Gaza's entire population and caused one of the worst humanitarian crises worldwide. Call for Abolishing Investigation Body In a response, Israel has urged the UN Human Rights Council to abolish the commission of inquiry into human rights violations in the Palestinian territories and Israel, according to Reuters. It also accused the council of bias and discrimination. In the message sent on Wednesday, Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Daniel Meron, said The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, discriminated against his country. Israel has repeatedly criticized findings by the UN-mandated commission, that has denounced the Israeli military's actions since it has launched its military campaign in Gaza in October 2023. Council spokesperson Pascal Sim said that Council President Jurg Lauber had already received the letter, but it would be up to the Council's 47 members to abolish the commission. In March, the commission concluded that Israel had carried out 'genocidal acts' against Palestinians during its war in Gaza. Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 57,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 137,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Related Topics: Israel Seeks US Support to Expel Palestinians out of Gaza: Report Syria, Israel Agree on Ceasefire amid Sweida Clashes: US Envoy Slovenia Announces 2 Israeli Ministers Persona Non Grata Short link : Post Views: 100
Leaders
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
Israel Urges UN to Abolish Investigation Commission for Palestinian Territories
Israel has urged the UN Human Rights Council to abolish the commission of inquiry into human rights violations in the Palestinian territories and Israel, according to Reuters. Israel also accused the council of bias and discrimination. In the message sent on Wednesday, Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Daniel Meron, said The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, discriminated against his country. 'The Commission of Inquiry, both in its mandate and in the work of its members, constitutes nothing less than a manifestation of the institutional discrimination against Israel in the Human Rights Council,' read the letter. Israel has repeatedly criticized findings by the UN-mandated commission, that has denounced the Israeli military's actions since it has launched its military campaign in Gaza in October 2023. Council spokesperson Pascal Sim said that Council President Jurg Lauber had already received the letter, but it would be up to the Council's 47 members to abolish the commission. In March, the commission concluded that Israel had carried out 'genocidal acts' against Palestinians during its war in Gaza. Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 57,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 137,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Related Topics: Israel to Increase Defense Spending amid Ongoing Deadly War in Gaza ICC Declines Israel's Bid to Halt Netanyahu Arrest Warrant Israel Strikes Damascus as Clashes Rage in Sweida Short link : Post Views: 5
AsiaOne
18-07-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Israel demands UN scrap investigation body for Palestinian territories, World News
GENEVA — Israel has demanded the UN Human Rights Council scrap a commission investigating rights violations in the Palestinian territories and Israel, accusing the body of bias, in a letter seen by Reuters. In the message sent on Wednesday (July 16), Israel's ambassador to the UN, Daniel Meron, said The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, discriminated against his country. Israel has regularly criticised findings by the UN-mandated commission, which has condemned actions by the Israeli military since it launched its offensive on Gaza following the deadly attacks by Hamas militants in Oct 7, 2023. The commission — established in May 2021 by the Human Rights Council during earlier hostilities between Israel and Hamas — can provide evidence used in pre-trial investigations by tribunals such as the International Criminal Court. "The Commission of Inquiry, both in its mandate and in the work of its members, constitutes nothing less than a manifestation of the institutional discrimination against Israel in the Human Rights Council," read the letter. Council President Jurg Lauber had received the letter but had no authority to abolish the commission, Council spokesperson Pascal Sim said. That would be up to the Council's 47 members, Sim added. In March, a report by the commission said that Israel had carried out "genocidal acts" against Palestinians. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the report's findings biased and antisemitic. Israel disengaged from the Human Rights Council in February. [[nid:720231]]
GMA Network
03-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
UN expert urges states to cut Israel trade ties over ‘apocalyptic' Gaza situation
A mourner holds a child during a funeral for Palestinians who were killed in an overnight Israeli strike on a tent, at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, July 3, 2025. REUTERS/ Hatem Khaled GENEVA — A UN expert on Thursday called on states to impose an arms embargo and cut off trade and financial ties with Israel, which she alleged is waging a "genocidal campaign" in Gaza. In a speech to the UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese said: "The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is apocalyptic." "Israel is responsible for one of the cruelest genocides in modern history," she added, in a speech that was met with a burst of applause from the Geneva council. Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Albanese's speech. Israel has rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza, citing its right to self-defense following the deadly October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Its delegate was not present in the room in line with a new policy to disengage with the council which Israel says has an antisemitic bias. Albanese, one of dozens of independent UN-mandated experts to document abuses around the world, was presenting her latest report which named over 60 companies she said were involved in supporting Israeli settlements and military actions in Gaza. "What I expose is not a list, it is a system, and that is to be addressed," she told the council. "We must reverse the tide," she added, calling for states to impose a full arms embargo, suspend all trade agreements and ensure companies face legal consequences for their involvement in violations of international law. Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva earlier this week said Albanese's latest report was "legally groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of her office." — Reuters
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
UN expert urges states to cut Israel trade ties over ‘apocalyptic' Gaza situation
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox UN human rights expert Francesca Albanese has disclosed a list of 60 companies that supports Israeli actions in Gaza. GENEVA – A United Nations expert on July 3 called on states to impose an arms embargo and cut off trade and financial ties with Israel, which she alleged is waging a 'genocidal campaign' in Gaza. In a speech to the UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese said: 'The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is apocalyptic.' 'Israel is responsible for one of the cruellest genocides in modern history,' she added, in a speech that was met with a burst of applause from the Geneva council. Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Albanese's speech. Israel has rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza, citing its right to self-defence following the deadly Oct 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Its delegate was not present in the room in line with a new policy to disengage with the council that Israel says has an anti-Semitic bias. Ms Albanese, one of dozens of independent UN-mandated experts to document abuses around the world, was presenting her latest report that named over 60 companies she said were involved in supporting Israeli settlements and military actions in Gaza. 'What I expose is not a list. It is a system, and that is to be addressed,' she told the council. 'We must reverse the tide,' she added, calling for states to impose a full arms embargo, suspend all trade agreements and ensure companies face legal consequences for their involvement in violations of international law. Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva earlier this week said Ms Albanese's latest report was 'legally groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of her office'. REUTERS
