New york: Three members of the United Nations commission investigating alleged crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories have unexpectedly resigned, citing personal reasons for their departure. Navi Pillay, Chris Sidoti, and Miloon Kothari, who were part of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, submitted their resignations on Monday, leading to questions about the future of the commission.

According to Anadolu Agency, the commissioners mentioned that the commission required renewal and highlighted personal factors, including age, as part of their decision to step down. The commission was originally established to examine alleged violations of international law in the occupied territories, which include the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The resignations occur amidst escalating tensions between the United Nations and the United States concerning the actions of Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories. The US has imposed sanctions on Albanese, accusing her of promoting rhetoric deemed 'antisemitic' and 'anti-Israel,' and for urging the International Criminal Court to take action against the US and Israel.

In a previous statement on July 1, the US had demanded Albanese's dismissal, warning that failure to act on their concerns would harm the UN's credibility and lead to US repercussions. In response, the UN's Special Procedures Committee condemned the US sanctions, labeling the move as unacceptable, further complicating the situation within international diplomatic circles.