Former war crimes prosecutor David Crane, an American who was named only last month to lead a UN investigation into Israeli killings in Gaza this year, has resigned, the United Nations said.
The UN said in a statement dated August 22 that Crane had informed the Human Rights Council of his decision a day earlier, “due to a personal circumstance that has arisen” and that the Council was “considering next steps”.
Former war crimes prosecutor David Crane, an American who was named only last month to lead a UN investigation into violence in Gaza this year, has resignedhttps://t.co/F9VDOMzjCf
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) August 23, 2018
Crane, a former senior US legal official who served as chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone in 2002-2005, was named chair of the three-person inquiry on July 25.
He could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday.
Prof David Crane – appointed chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry into the protests in #Gaza – has reportedly resigned citing 'personal circumstances'. https://t.co/7QAsMFyKsD
— Rohan Talbot (@rohantalbot) August 23, 2018
At least 170 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army in what it has called border protection during weekly protests that began in late March. One Israeli soldier has been killed.
The UN Human Rights Council voted in May to set up the investigation into the killings. Israel said it was being demonized and that the inquiry was intended to undermine its right to self-defense.
israel continues it's war crimes against Palestinian people and this time another normal and simple family was wiped out by a direct and deliberate israeli air strike against a civilian target#GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/476osZ6JhS
— Great Return March (@GreatReturnMa) August 10, 2018
Crane, recently retired as a Syracuse University professor, worked for decades for the US government, including as senior inspector general in the Department of Defense. When chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone he indicted the then Liberian leader Charles Taylor for war crimes.
The UN Human Rights Council voted in May to investigate Israel for the deaths of Palestinian protesters in Gaza. At least 170 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since March.
This is why Palestinians in Gaza are protesting:pic.twitter.com/eJ9mx6KbxW
— AJ+ (@ajplus) August 21, 2018
The remaining members of the Commission of Inquiry are Sara Hossain of Bangladesh and Kaari Betty Murungi of Kenya. The commission is due to provide an update on its work to the Human Rights Council on September 24.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
