The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, has asserted that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, attributing the violence to longstanding international complicity. In a virtual address to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee on October 24, 2023, Albanese described the situation as the “culmination of decades of moral and political failure.”
Albanese emphasized the need for immediate action, calling for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied Palestinian territory. “On day 751 of the genocide in Gaza, I begin by honouring the victims and survivors of all genocides, past and present,” she stated, highlighting the scale of the crisis with over 240,000 individuals killed or injured and thousands missing, either buried under rubble or detained.
International Complicity and Calls for Action
In her report, Albanese condemned the complicity of various nations that continue to arm and support Israel. She noted that such actions contribute to a “militarised apartheid” in the region, which allows Israel’s settler-colonial enterprise to escalate into genocide. “Through unlawful actions and deliberate omissions, too many states have armed, funded, and shielded Israel,” she lamented.
Albanese did not shy away from addressing the role of the United States, mentioning that she faced sanctions for her work. “I deeply regret not being able to present this report in person, due to certain unlawful and spiteful sanctions imposed on me by the United States for fulfilling my UN mandate,” she said. Albanese criticized these measures as an attack on the UN’s integrity and autonomy.
She urged the international community to take concrete steps, including securing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and dismantling the settlements established by Israel. Albanese warned that if the UN Security Council remains paralyzed, “this assembly shall act under ‘Uniting for Peace’ in ways more robust than it has until now.”
The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with the territory described as being “strangled, starved, and shattered.” Albanese’s remarks underscore the deepening crisis faced by the Palestinian people, who have endured decades of conflict and instability.
As the international community grapples with the implications of these statements, the urgency for a resolution becomes increasingly clear. The ongoing violence not only affects the immediate region but carries broader implications for global peace and stability.
In light of this situation, Albanese’s call for accountability and action resonates strongly, as the world watches closely to see how the UN and its member states will respond to her assertions and the plight of those in Gaza.
