Top ex-UN official who flagged ‘genocide in Gaza’ faces complaint by pro-Israel lobby
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New York: Craig Mokhiber, the director of the New York office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights who left the job, citing the UN's incapability to protect Palestinians from being killed by Israel, is said to have been under review for his allegedly biased social media posts against Israel following a complaint from a pro-Israel lobby group.
Mokhiber has resigned following a contentious letter denouncing the UN's failure to protect civilians in Gaza, accusing Israel of committing genocide, and criticizing his own organization for its inability to intervene.
UK Lawyers for Israel, a pro-Israel lobby group, complained against him, arguing that Mokhiber's online posts and televised interviews demonstrated an extreme anti-Israel bias, violating international civil service rules on independence and impartiality.
The complaint cited a post by Mokhiber on X (formerly Twitter) following the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, shot by an Israeli sniper. Mokhiber accused Israel of "whitewashing cold-blooded murder" and criticized a pattern of supporting impunity dating back 75 years.
The UN's investigations division office of Internal Oversight Services has been reviewing the complaint since March. Recently, the case was passed on to the High Commissioner for Human Rights for further assessment.
Mokhiber, who had worked at the UN since 1992 and specialized in international human rights law, claimed he was unaware of the review. He stated, "Israel lobby groups regularly harass and complain about UN officials who speak out on Israeli violations." Despite the controversy, Mokhiber insisted that such complaints were common and doubted any substantial consequences.
In his departure letter, Mokhiber did not reference the recent events in Gaza but argued that a genocide was unfolding, claiming the UN appeared "powerless" to stop it. The letter expressed frustration with the systematic persecution and purging of the Palestinian people, rooted in an ethno-nationalist colonial-settler ideology.
The UN confirmed Mokhiber's retirement, with a spokesperson stating that he had informed the organization of his decision in March 2023. The departure raises questions about the UN's ability to address internal controversies and maintain impartiality in the face of geopolitical conflicts.