The United Nations Human Rights Council has appointed Palestinian academic Zeina Jallad as special rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures. The decision was announced despite past statements in which she described Hamas as a 'resistance movement' and a 'political party' that recognized Israel, even though the group is committed to Israel’s destruction.

Jallad has publicly argued that resisting oppression must not be treated as a crime and has called for Israel to be suspended from international organizations as a means to uphold justice. She has also described Israel’s creation as the product of Western wrongdoing and Europe, and has accused the country of settler colonialism and apartheid.

Her nomination by the council’s Office of the President bypassed a candidate recommended by its consultative group, an academic from Spain. Special rapporteurs operate as independent experts with United Nations backing and resources, and they have wide latitude to express their views with limited oversight.

The council has frequently drawn criticism for disproportionately condemning Israel, with some rapporteurs whose mandates are unrelated to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict also using their platforms to criticize the country.