After less than a month, head of UN probe into Gaza violence quits

Former war crimes prosecutor David Crane, who was named only last month to lead a U.N. investigation into this year's violence in the Gaza Strip, has resigned, the United Nations said in a statement Wednesday. The statement said Crane had informed the U.N. Human Rights Council of his decision a day earlier, and that it was "due to a personal circumstance that has arisen." It said the council was "considering next steps."

Crane, a former senior legal official from the United States who served as chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone from 2002 to 2005, was named chairman of the three-person inquiry on July 25. Over 150 Palestinians have been killed in nearly four months of riots on the Israel-Gaza Strip border, instigated by Hamas, the terrorist group that rules the coastal enclave.

The Human Rights Council voted in May to set up the investigation into the border violence. Israel slammed the decision, saying it was being demonized and that the inquiry was intended to undermine its right to self-defense.

Recently retired as a Syracuse University professor, Crane worked for decades for the U.S. government, including as senior inspector general in the Defense Department. As chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, he indicted Liberian leader Charles Taylor for war crimes.

Still remaining on 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 Sept. 24.

After less than a month, head of UN probe into Gaza violence quits

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