UN Human Rights director resigns over UN's inaction in Gaza genocide
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The director of the OHCHR resigned after his criticism of the long-standing Israeli aggression supported by Western governments and the dehumanization of Palestinians by Western media.
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Craig Mokhiber, Director of the New York Office of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, addresses a panel discussion focusing on race, poverty and power, organized by his Office, October 12, 2009 (UN)
Craig Mokhiber, the Director of the New York Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, has resigned in protest due to the UN's perceived inability to prevent the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
"This will be my last communication to you," Mokhiber wrote in his resignation letter to the UN high commissioner in Geneva, Volker Turk on October 28.
"We are seeing a genocide unfolding before our eyes, and the Organisation that we serve appears powerless to stop it," he added.
Mokhiber has expressed concern over the unfolding genocide and called for efforts to combat apartheid and establish a single, secular, democratic state in historic Palestine based on human rights for all its people.
His resignation follows his criticism of the long-standing Israeli aggression supported by Western governments and the dehumanization of Palestinians by Western media, emphasizing the need for both to come to an end.
The #genocide we are witnessing in #Palestine is the product of decades of Israeli #impunity provided by the US & other western governments & decades of #dehumanization of the Palestinian people by western corporate media. Both must end now. Speak up for #HumanRights
— Craig Mokhiber (@CraigMokhiber) October 30, 2023
Craig Mokhiber has had a long career with the UN since 1992, holding various significant positions. He has been involved in developing a human rights-based approach to development and has served as a senior human rights adviser in several regions, including Palestine, Afghanistan, and Sudan.
Mokhiber, who is an international human rights law specialist, lived in Gaza in the 1990s.
As the director of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, he has occasionally faced criticism from pro-Israeli groups for his social media comments.
Specifically, he was scrutinized for expressing support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement and for accusing "Israel" of practicing apartheid, a charge he reiterated in his resignation letter.
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