NEW YORK, July 15, 2025 — Three members of a United Nations commission tasked with investigating alleged human rights abuses in Israel and the Palestinian territories have resigned.
UN investigators quit amid controversy
Three members of a UN commission probing alleged human rights violations in Israel and Palestinian territories have stepped down.
The commission, established in 2021, had accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The three experts submitted their resignation letters separately between July 8 and July 10 to the president of the Human Rights Council, Swiss Ambassador Jürg Lauber. A council spokesperson confirmed the resignations on Monday.
New experts are expected to be appointed in early November. This will occur after the departing members present their final report during the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.
Pillay stated in her July 8 letter that she felt compelled to resign due to her age, medical issues, and other commitments. Her resignation is effective November 3.
Chris Sidoti submitted his letter on July 9, noting that the president’s departure offered an opportune moment to reconstitute the commission. Miloon Kothari sent his resignation on July 10.
The independent international commission of inquiry was formed by the UN Human Rights Council in May 2021. Its mandate was to investigate violations of international law in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Since the conflict in Gaza began, following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the commission has accused Israel of “war crimes” and the “crime against humanity of extermination.” The experts also accuse Hamas and Palestinian armed groups of war crimes and “crimes against humanity” concerning hostages taken into Gaza.
Israel has maintained that the commission is an “intrinsically biased and politicized mechanism of the Human Rights Council.”
- Three UN human rights investigators have resigned.
- The commission was formed in 2021.
- It accused Israel and Hamas of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Israel has criticized the commission as biased.
- New members will be appointed by November.
