The world has given Israel “a licence to torture Palestinians”, says Francesca Albanese, the UN’s special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories.
“Israel has effectively been given a licence to torture Palestinians, because most of your governments, your ministers, have allowed it,” she said, as she presented her latest report to the UN Human Rights Council.
“Francesca Albanese is not a promoter of human rights; she is an agent of chaos… and any document she produces is nothing but a politically-charged, activist rant,” Israel’s mission in Geneva said in response to Ms Albanese.
Albanese has faced harsh criticism, allegations of antisemitism and demands for her removal, from Israel and some of its allies, over her continued criticism of Israel, particularly its actions in Gaza.
Though appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, special rapporteurs are independent experts and do not speak on behalf of the United Nations itself.
Israel is defending a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has ordered provisional measures but has yet to issue a final ruling.
Israel has repeatedly denied committing genocide in Gaza. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has described the ICJ case as “outrageous” and said Israel has an “unwavering commitment” to international law.
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