Geneva: The President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Jurg Lauber, has nominated new members for the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israeli occupation. This decision follows the resignation of the former members in July.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Human Rights Council in Geneva has decided to establish an ongoing independent international commission of inquiry. The commission is tasked with investigating alleged violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of human rights law since April 13, 2021.
The resolution mandates the commission to investigate underlying root causes of recurrent tensions and conflicts, which include systematic discrimination and repression based on national, ethnic, racial, or religious identity. The commission is required to report annually to the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly.
Further resolutions in 2024 requested the commission to present reports regarding settlers and arms sales related to the Israeli military operation in Gaza since October 7, 2023. By September 2025, the commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The current commission comprises Indian judge Srinivasan Muralidhar as Chair, Zambian judge Florence Mumba, and Australian expert Chris Sidoti, who has been reappointed for a new term after serving in the former commission.