Ex-NY judge appointed to UN Gaza probe

The president of the United Nations’ top human rights body has appointed a former New York Supreme Court judge to serve as the third member of a commission investigating possible violations of the rules of war in Gaza.

Gabon Ambassador Baudelaire Ndong Ella, who presides over the UN’s 47-nation Human Rights Council, said Monday that Mary McGowan Davis will join William Schabas and Doudou Diene on the commission created by the council’s July 23 resolution.

Davis, who also was a federal prosecutor and has previous UN experience related to Gaza, will take the place of British-Lebanese lawyer Amal Alamuddin. Alamuddin, who is engaged to marry George Clooney, said she could not accept the role shortly after she had been appointed to it.

A commission report is due in March 2015.

— AP