United Nations Human Rights New York Office Director Craig Mokhiber RESIGNS in protest of UN’s handling of Israel-Hamas war, calling attacks on Gaza ‘a text-book case of genocide’

• Mokhiber has resigned in a contentious four-page letter to the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk
• Mokhiber wrote, ‘This is a text-book case of genocide. The European, ethno-nationalist, settler colonial project in Palestine has entered its final phase’ 
• Mokhiber was accused in March of antisemitism and ‘extreme bias’ against Israel after a series of controversial tweets were exposed by watchdog organizations

A United Nations Human Rights New York office director has resigned in protest of the UN’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war – after calling attacks on Gaza ‘a text-book case of genocide.’ 

Craig Mokhiber, Director in the New York Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, resigned in a contentious four-page letter to the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk. 

In his resignation letter, Mokhiber wrote, ‘This is a text-book case of genocide. The European, ethno-nationalist, settler colonial project in Palestine has entered its final phase, toward the expedited destruction of the last remnants of indigenous Palestinian life in Palestine.’ 

Mokhiber’s ⁣letter emphasized his belief in a one-state solution and revealed his desire to completely disarm Israel. 

‘First, we in the UN must abandon the failed (and largely disingenuous) Oslo paradigm, its illusory two-state solution…’ he wrote, referring to the establishment of two separate states for Jews and Arabs, as a proposed resolution to the conflict. 

Director in the New York Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Craig Mokhiber, resigned over the UN’s handling of Israel-Hamas war in a contentious four page letter to the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk

In his resignation letter, Mokhiber wrote, ‘This is a text-book case of genocide. The European, ethno-nationalist, settler colonial project in Palestine has entered its final phase, toward the expedited destruction of the last remnants of indigenous Palestinian life in Palestine’ 

Despite Mokhiber’s claims, the majority of Jews in Israel are in fact ‘Mizrachi Jews’, Jews of Middle Eastern and North African descent. Only about 30 percent of Jews in Israel are Ashkenazi, Jews of ‘European descent’

Mokhiber goes ​further, accusing the government of the United States, United Kingdom, ‌and much ⁢of Europe of​ being complicit and ‘not credible mediators.’ 

‘What’s more, the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe, are wholly complicit in the horrific assault.

‘Not only are these governments refusing to meet their treaty obligations “to ensure respect” for the Geneva Conventions, but they are in fact actively arming the assault, providing economic and intelligence support, and giving political and diplomatic cover for Israel’s atrocities.’ 

‘We must recognize that the US and other western powers are in fact not credible mediators, but rather actual parties to the conflict who are complicit with Israel in the violation of Palestinian rights, and we must engage them as such,’ he wrote. 

Mokhiber was accused in March – months prior to the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack – of antisemitism and ‘extreme bias’ against Israel after a series of controversial tweets was exposed by watchdog organizations

He was accused of violating his duty and lacking neutrality in human rights issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and deemed ‘unfit’ to serve in his position

Mokhiber was accused in March – months prior to the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack – of antisemitism and ‘extreme bias’ against Israel after a series of controversial tweets was exposed by watchdog organizations. 

He was accused of violating his duty and lacking neutrality in human rights issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and deemed by critics as ‘unfit’ to serve in his position.

Despite Mokhiber’s claims accusing Israel of being a ‘European, ethno-nationalist, settler colonial project in Palestine,’ the majority of Jews in Israel are in fact ‘Mizrachi Jews’, Jews of Middle Eastern and North African descent. Only about 30 percent of Jews in Israel are Ashkenazi, Jews of ‘European descent.’ 

He also made the alarming claim that anti-Zionism had no connection to anti Semitism – without acknowledging the dramatic increase in violent anti-Semitic incidents since the Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7. 

The Anti-Defamation League has recorded a 388 percent spike in anti-Semitic incidents across the United States, compared to the same time last year – including 190 anti-Semitic incidents between October 7 to 23, which were directly linked to the war in Israel and Gaza.

Under the definition of anti-Semitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, includes ‘Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.’

People mourn as they collect the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli air raids on October 26, 2023

Mourners carry the bodies of Palestinians killed in the Israeli airstrikes after they were moved from the morgue of Nasser Hospital to be buried at a cemetery in Khan Yunis, Gaza on October 26, 2023

Israeli armored vehicles take part in an operation, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, at a location given as the northern Gaza Strip in this image taken from a handout video released October 26, 2023

Mokhiber’s letter comes after the UN overwhelmingly demanded a humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas, amid an increased bombardment by Israel against the Gaza Strip. 

The United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday voted 120 to 14 to adopt the non-binding resolution, calling for an ‘immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities’ in the bloodiest conflict between Hamas and Israel in decades.

Israel and the US have rejected calls for a ceasefire, suggesting it would mean surrendering that would amount to a victory for Hamas. 

The resolution, which 45 states abstained from voting on, also called for the ‘the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians who are being illegally held captive’, though it did not name Hamas as the captors.

‘The answer, I believe, is simple-if we have the clarity to see beyond the propagandistic smokescreens that distort the vision of justice to which we are sworn,’ Mokhiber continued.

‘The courage to abandon fear and deference to powerful states, and the will to truly take up the banner of human rights and peace. To be sure, this is a long-term project and a steep climb. But we must begin now or surrender to unspeakable horror.’ 

‘The UN’s failure in Palestine thus far is not a reason for us to withdraw. Rather it should give us the courage to abandon the failed paradigm of the past, and fully embrace a more principled course.

‘Let us, as OHCHR, boldly and proudly join the anti-apartheid movement that is growing all around the world, adding our logo to the banner of equality and human rights for the Palestinian people,’ he wrote. 

‘The world is watching, We will all he accountable for where we stood at this crucial moment in history et us stand on the side of justice.’ 

Israel’s ambassador to the UN displayed a yellow star reminiscent of Holocaust victims on his chest Monday, provocatively pledging to wear the badge until members of the Security Council condemn Hamas ‘atrocities’

A gold Star of David with the words ‘Never Again’ is worn by Israel United Nations Ambassador Gilad Erdan as he speaks during a Security Council meeting

The UN is an agency that claims to be apolitical but has received backlash over its ‘anti-Israel’ stance since the War against Hamas broke out. 

Israel’s ambassador to the UN displayed a yellow star reminiscent of Holocaust victims on his chest Monday, provocatively pledging to wear the badge until members of the Security Council condemn Hamas ‘atrocities.’

The state has previously called for Secretary General Antonio Guterres to resign after he said last week that the October 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,400 ‘didn’t happen in a vacuum.’

‘Some of you have learned nothing in the past 80 years. Some of you have forgotten why this body was established,’ envoy Gilad Erdan said.

Erdan denounced the Security Council for ‘staying silent’ over the unprecedented deadly attacks by Hamas Palestinian militants against Israel.

The deeply divided 15-member council has not adopted a single resolution on the three-week-long war between Israel and Hamas.

Israeli tanks entered Gaza City Monday, while IDF troops were pelted with rocks as they carried out raids against armed Palestinian groups in the West Bank.

The signs that Israel was stepping up its military operations in the region came as a UN official warned the Gaza Strip was on the brink of social collapse, with mobs looting warehouses for food and families forced to drink dirty water.

Fears for the more than 2.2 million living in the small territory are rising rapidly as Israel presses on with the ‘second stage’ of its war to eliminate Hamas.

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