All UN Israel-Palestine Inquiry Commissioners Resign After US Sanctions

All three members of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories—Navi Pillay, Chris Sidoti, and Miloon Kothari—have resigned amid mounting political pressure and accusations of bias against Israel. Their departures follow recent U.S. sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian human rights, who was criticized for promoting actions against U.S. and Israeli officials. Israel has consistently rejected the commission’s legitimacy, denied it access, and accused it of anti-Semitism, while the U.S. and pro-Israel groups have condemned the panel for its perceived one-sided focus on Israeli actions and alleged anti-Israel prejudice. The commissioners cited personal reasons such as age, medical issues, and timing for their resignations, but their departure is viewed by critics as a response to escalating diplomatic and political pressure from Israel and its allies. The UN Human Rights Council plans to appoint new members to continue the commission's work, though the recent resignations raise questions about the future of international accountability mechanisms regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. The resignations highlight the ongoing contentious international debate over the investigation of alleged human rights violations in the region.