Former Odisha HC Chief Justice to investigate Palestine-Israel human rights violations

Guwahati: The United Nations has named former Odisha High Court Chief Justice and Senior Advocate Dr. S. Muralidhar as the new Chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.

With this appointment, Dr. Muralidhar takes charge of the three-member body set up by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate breaches of international humanitarian and human rights laws in the conflict region. He replaces Brazilian jurist Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, who previously led the Commission.

Dr. Muralidhar will work alongside Florence Mumba of Zambia and Chris Sidoti of Australia, the latter returning to the panel after a fresh appointment.

The Commission’s core responsibilities include investigating alleged violations, identifying individuals or groups responsible, and recommending measures to ensure justice and accountability for affected civilians.

The Human Rights Council created the Commission in 2021 through Resolution S-30/1, directing it to conduct an ongoing inquiry into rights abuses and violations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory dating back to April 13, 2021.

The mandate also requires the body to analyze deeper structural issues—such as persistent discrimination, instability, and the enduring nature of the conflict—linked to ethnic, racial, national, or religious identities.

The Commission submits annual reports to both the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly. Its scope expanded in 2024, when the Council asked it to investigate issues related to Israeli settlers and international arms transfers, including weapons used during Israel’s Gaza operations following October 7, 2023.

In its September 2025 report, the Commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.