Every investigation confirms Israel is committing genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights situation in Palestine, Francesca Albanese, says.

Albanese said in a recent address to the Spanish parliament that she has devoted the past year – in cooperation with dozens of UN experts – to “documenting the genocide committed by Israel in Palestine.” 

She said “there is no doubt that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, as well as intensive destruction operations.”

The outspoken UN special envoy said Israel is committing “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” 

Albanese said the July decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirms clearly that Israel is committing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territories.

On July 19, the UN top court ruled that the occupied Palestinian territories constitute a “single territorial unit” that must be protected and respected.

Albanese said the Israeli genocide “has left irreparable damage” to the lives of Palestinians in Gaza.

The UN official also said Operation Al-Aqsa Flood of October 7, 2023 “in no way justifies the genocide committed by Israel.” 

Elsewhere in her remarks, Albanese said continuing to trade arms with a state or entity that is committing genocide is a violation of the UN Charter.

She called for the next step to be “severing all military, academic and diplomatic relations with Israel.”

Last week, a UN special committee said Israel’s warfare methods in Gaza were consistent with “genocide,” including the use of starvation as a weapon of war. 

The committee pointed to “mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians” in the besieged territory. 

 

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