In a report by Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, has accused Israel of carrying out human rights violations on Palestinians in occupied territory with genocidal intent. In light of these accusations, Israel’s Geneva UN mission strongly denounced Albanese, accusing her of being a political activist who abuses her UN mandate.
They claimed she regularly spews anti-Semitism, shields and encourages terrorism, and distorts the law. The mission called for her to be held accountable for her alleged continuous abuses of the UN code of conduct. These allegations have been a point of contention in international forums, particularly within the United Nations.
The United States has also expressed its disapproval of Albanese. US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, tweeted, “I want to reiterate the US belief she is unfit for her role,” referencing the repeated accusations of antisemitism against Albanese. While the Biden administration has not publicly called for her removal, it has sharpened its tone against her in recent months. Several senior officials have publicly declared her unfit and rejected her mandate altogether. Thomas-Greenfield further tweeted, “The United Nations should not tolerate antisemitism from a UN-affiliated official hired to promote human rights.”
At a press conference, Albanese defended herself, redirecting attention from personal attacks to the plight of Palestinians saying that “I really don’t feel comfortable entertaining discussions concerning the attacks against me because it’s not about me, and I’m not the story. The story is the fact that there are Palestinians who risk being erased from their land.”
Who is Francesca Albanese?
Francesca P. Albanese is an Italian international lawyer and academic, born in 1977. She has a notable career in human rights and international law. She spent a decade working as a human rights expert for the United Nations, serving in roles at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees. Albanese is an Affiliate Scholar at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of International Migration. She also serves as a Senior Advisor on Migration and Forced Displacement for the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) think tank.
At ARDD, she co-founded the Global Network on the Question of Palestine (GNQP), a coalition of distinguished professionals and scholars focused on Israel/Palestine issues. Albanese has extensively published works on the legal aspects of the Israel/Palestine situation. She holds a Law Degree (with honors) from the University of Pisa and an LLM in Human Rights from the University of London, SOAS. On May 1, 2022, she was appointed as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, making her the first woman to hold this position.
Albanese’s role involves investigating and reporting on human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. Her work has been highly controversial, particularly her recent report accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza. She has also been criticized by US media outlets for spreading anti-semitism in college and university campuses in US.
In March 2024, Albanese concluded that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Israel had committed acts of genocide in Gaza in her report titled ‘Anatomy of a Genocide’. Her recent report, titled ‘Genocide as Colonial Erasure,’ details the extensive loss of life and injuries among Palestinians, including the deaths of over 10,000 individuals and injuries to more than 21,000 since March 2024. The report highlighted the deliberate targeting of aid distribution sites, hospitals, schools, and markets, resulting in significant civilian casualties, including children.
Albanese’s report provided a grim account of the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. It documented the deaths of at least 13,000 children, including more than 700 babies, many of whom were shot in the head and chest. The report also noted that approximately 22,500 Palestinians had sustained life-changing injuries, and an estimated 10,000 people were buried under rubble, including 4,000 children. The continued bombardment of evacuees in designated “safe zones” was highlighted as a significant issue, creating ongoing hardship, terror, and death.
“Continued bombardment of evacuees in purportedly designated “safe zones” has continued to create hardship, terror and death… From 7 October 2023 to the end of September 2024, Israeli forces carried out more than 5,505 raids. Violent settlers, supported by Israeli forces and officials, conducted 1,084 attacks, killing more than 692 Palestinians – 10 times the previous 14 years’ annual average of 69 fatalities – and injuring 5,199,” the report further stated.
According to the report, Palestinians have been subjected to appalling detention practices in the West Bank, with tens of thousands detained under orders from Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Many detainees, including academics, students, lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders, have been designated as “terrorists” or “national security threats.” The report revealed systemic abuse, brutality, degradation, torture, and even rape within detention facilities, leading to the deaths of at least 12 detainees due to torture and denial of medical care.
What qualifies for a genocide?
The report argues that Israel’s stated goals of eradicating Hamas and bringing hostages home do not exclude the possibility of genocidal intent. It suggests that these motives, whether combined or separate, support the inference of genocidal intent. Historical examples show that genocide can occur during armed conflict, with perpetrators often claiming military necessity. The distinction between intent (to destroy a group) and motive (reasons behind actions) is emphasized, noting that motives can reveal intent.
“Different underlying motives do not displace genocidal intent. As observed by Judge Bhandari, “genocidal intent may exist simultaneously with other, ulterior motives”. In international criminal jurisprudence, intent (the aim to achieve a criminal result: destruction of the group) is distinguished from motive (the reasons behind an action: hatred, revenge/collective punishment, personal political agendas, alleged threat). Although motive is usually irrelevant in criminal law, it can reveal intent,” the report says.
Post-October 7, Israel’s military actions in Gaza are framed as self-defense, but international law requires the occupying power to protect, not target, the occupied population. Ignoring the ICJ directive to end the occupation and suppressing self-determination rights are seen as actions that could lead to genocide.
Calls for Resignation
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, was extremely critical of Albanese, calling for her resignation. He accused her of exploiting the Holocaust and manipulating history to suit her agenda, describing her presence at the UN as a disgrace and a betrayal of moral standards.
“Not a word was said about the 101 hostages still suffering at the hands of Hamas. No mention of Hamas or Hezbollah—the very groups who ignited this war. @FranceskAlbs, how dare you exploit the Holocaust and the bloodiest massacre the Jewish people have endured since, manipulating history to suit your twisted agenda?”
“Your presence at the UN is a disgrace, a betrayal of all moral standards. Resign immediately. Leave your credentials at the door and join your friends at Hamas and Hezbollah, where you belong,” he said on X.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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