Article by Viory
UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese accused Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing’ against Palestinians, citing decades of what she described as ‘systematic human suffering’ in a major report examining military operations and alleged breaches of international law by Israeli forces – during an address to the Human Rights Council’s 61st session in Geneva on Tuesday.
“The destruction of infrastructure, mass displacement, starvation, and the killing of entire families, starting, but not limiting itself, to Gaza, created conditions of unprecedented human suffering,” she said.
“Pervasive surveillance, settler terror emboldened by state support, military raids and enforced displacement have created a permanent state of psychological terror,” she added.
Albanese also addressed the number of Palestinian detainees, saying that more than 18,500 Palestinians have been arrested over the past two years, including around 1,500 children.
“Now, around 9,000 Palestinians remain under detention. 300 of them are children. And half of the detained population is without charge or trial,” she stated.
“Half of the detained population is without charge or trial. If charge or trial meant something, because Israel has no legal authority to arrest and detain Palestinians in the land that it lawfully occupies. Thousands have been forcibly disappeared,” she continued.
Responding to criticism from the Israeli mission in Geneva – which accused her of being an ‘advocate for chaos,’ – Albanese rejected the claims from Tel Aviv’s, adding that it is ‘only a matter of time’ until Israel is held accountable.
Albanese also accused UN member states of ‘complicity,’ saying that verbal condemnations while continuing to arm Israel and provide political support delay accountability.
She has previously accused Israel of using sexual violence and torture as weapons, allegations rejected by the Israeli mission in Geneva, which said her report relied on what it described as ‘unverified sources.’
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called the case a ‘blood libel’ and has also described the HRC as “an antisemitic, rotten, terrorist-supporting, and irrelevant body”.
Article by Viory
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