Former Orissa High Court Chief Justice S. Muralidhar has been appointed as the Chair of a United Nations Commission tasked with investigating alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Israel, Gaza, and the wider Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem. His appointment places an Indian jurist at the helm of one of the UN’s most closely watched inquiry mechanisms.
The panel is a three-member body comprising experts from India, Zambia, and Australia. It was originally set up in 2021 to examine not only specific incidents of violence but also the broader patterns and structural issues that contribute to the recurring conflict in the region. The Commission’s mandate includes looking into systemic discrimination and long-standing grievances rooted in national, ethnic, racial, or religious identity.
Over time, the panel’s responsibilities have expanded to cover issues such as settler attacks, the flow of weapons into the region, and the deeper causes that fuel continuing hostilities. Its periodic reports have drawn significant global attention, particularly for findings related to large-scale civilian harm.
Justice Muralidhar’s long legal career includes practice before India’s top courts, work in the field of human rights, and leadership of a major High Court. In his new role, he will oversee investigations, guide fact-finding efforts, and present the Commission’s conclusions to both the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly. His appointment signals a significant acknowledgment of his experience and is expected to shape the direction of the ongoing inquiry into one of the world’s most contentious conflicts.
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