Israeli diplomat accuses UN commission of antisemitism

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, went on the social media platform X to blast the UN Commission of Inquiry which is looking into allegations that Hamas committed sexual violence during its 7 October attack on Israel.

The Israeli diplomat accused the commission, established by the UN Human Rights Council, as biased and cited Iran's recent chairmanship of the council's Social Forum.

The European Union's Vice President Josep Borrell previously noted Iran's appointment to the chairmanship was a result of standard UN procedures in which the chair rotates between different countries.

"Israel will not cooperate in any way with such a discriminatory and antisemitic body," Erdan said, accusing the commission of being antisemitic.

The comments from Erdan come after the announcement on Wednesday of a UN commission of inquiry investigating war crimes on both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict that will focus on sexual violence by Hamas in the 7 October attacks on Israel.

The commission's chair said it is about to launch an appeal for evidence.