In an interview with UN News, UN Human Rights Council-appointed expert Francesca Albanese expressed the immense pain and suffering that Israelis are experiencing due to recent events. She emphasized that it is not just those who have been killed or taken hostage, but the entire population that has been profoundly affected.
Albanese disagreed with the UN chief’s assertion that the brutal attacks by Hamas fighters on October 7th “did not occur in a vacuum.” She pointed out that Gazans have already endured five deadly wars and have been subjected to an unlawful blockade by Israel, which has trapped 2.2 million people. She added that since October 7th, Gaza has been bombarded with an average of 6,000 bombs per week.
Over 7,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than 19,740 injured since the Israeli bombing campaign began, according to the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) and the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza. UNICEF reported that nearly 2,400 children were among the dead, with women and children accounting for 66% of the casualties. Albanese highlighted that schools and hospitals have been targeted in the bombings, and there has been a tightening of the blockade.
Albanese criticized Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian lands and the mistreatment of Palestinians, stating that Israel is an occupying power and there is no independent and sovereign Palestinian state. She also criticized the international community for not taking stronger action to end the illegal occupation.
Regarding the right to self-defense, Albanese acknowledged that both Israel and Palestine have the right to defend themselves militarily, but the response must be proportional to the perceived threat. She argued that once the initial attack is repelled, the subsequent bombings of targets in Gaza violate international law.
Albanese emphasized that the right to resist is guaranteed under international law, but Hamas’ attack on civilians violated this right. She criticized the Israeli government’s dehumanization of Palestinian civilians and called out Israeli political leaders for their derogatory statements. She also criticized Western countries for their unwavering support of Israel despite its human rights violations.
Albanese called on the international community to provide support to both Israelis and Palestinians, stand in solidarity with the Palestinians, and condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas. She expressed grave concern for the future of both Palestinians and Israelis and urged immediate action to end the conflict.
Special Rapporteurs and other independent rights experts, like Albanese, work on a voluntary and unpaid basis as part of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. They are not UN staff and work independently of any government or organization.