UN rapporteur accuses Israel of genocide with state complicity

UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, has issued a forceful condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, labeling them a genocide facilitated by international complicity. Speaking at the Doha Forum on Monday, Albanese denounced "the brutality of the Israeli genocide, carried out with the complicity of far too many States."

A call for urgent multilateral action

In a statement on the social media platform X, Albanese called for decisive international mobilization. "The States who want to preserve what remains of multilateralism must build new alliances fast, and stand as UNITED NATIONS for real, cornering the bullies," she wrote. Her remarks underscore a deepening crisis of confidence in international institutions to hold powerful actors accountable.

Legal context and ongoing violations

The accusation comes amid the ongoing International Court of Justice (ICJ) case, initiated by South Africa in 2023, which accuses Israel of genocidal acts in Gaza. Israeli military operations since October have resulted in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children—a death toll many countries and human rights organizations cite as evidence of genocide. Despite a ceasefire being in place for two months, reports of Israeli violations continue.

Report on third-state responsibility

Albanese's charges are detailed in her October report titled "Gaza Genocide: a collective crime." In it, she argues that "third states" bear responsibility through direct support, material aid, diplomatic protection, and, in some instances, active participation in Israeli operations. This framework of shared culpability challenges the diplomatic and military backing provided to Israel by several Western nations and shifts the focus toward the enabling role of the international community.