The three-person United Nations commission was created in 2021 and has been sharply criticized by Israel.― Reuters pic

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