ANKARA, July 16 (Bernama-Anadolu) — 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