Exclusive - 'Israel' exploits intl. law to justify genocide: Albanese
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Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in occupied Palestine, explained to Al Mayadeen how she approached her report accusing the Israeli occupation of genocide.
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The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in occupied Palestine, Francesca Albanese in an interview with Al Mayadeen (Screengrab)
The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in occupied Palestine, Francesca Albanese, announced in a statement to Al Mayadeen that what is happening in Gaza is described as an "unprecedented war crime," while strengthening her statement with the argument she used to present the genocide charges that "today have been integrated."
Albanese clarified by saying she initially made a connection between "Israeli leaders' statements and the soldiers' actions on the ground."
"I analyzed specific cases, and we found a lot that needed to be addressed and written in a way that did not fit into the ten-thousand-word report we submitted," she added.
Similarly, Albanese emphasized to Al Mayadeen that she addressed specific cases that substantiate her analysis, highlighting how "international humanitarian law has been distorted and blatantly manipulated to justify genocidal violence," adding that "The act of genocide is confirmed and was committed against the entire population, adults and minors, and the issue is not limited to the Israeli occupation raiding the Gaza Strip."
During the 55th session of the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, #FrancescaAlbanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the #Palestinian territories, introduced a report titled "Anatomy of a Genocide."
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 27, 2024
Through an examination of the violence patterns and… pic.twitter.com/cEkpGF840M
The UN rapporteur also observed that "there are documented instances of violence, captured by Israeli soldiers themselves, perpetrated against Palestinian civilians. These include acts of humiliation, killings, massacres, and disregard for cultural and religious sanctuaries. These incidents unfolded in plain sight, and my role was to elevate their significance, categorizing them as genocide."
She added, "This is what South Africa preceded us in, which initiated a legal path through the lawsuit filed before the International Court against Israel on charges of genocide.”
Albanese urged "Western countries, in particular, to take decisive action to halt the atrocities happening in Gaza," questioning their prolonged absence from addressing the situation in the region.
Read next: Countries at UN rally behind expert who accused 'Israel' of genocide
Earlier today, she said that she received threats after publishing a report on "Israel's" genocidal actions in Gaza. The remarks came as she was responding to questions from reporters after submitting Tuesday a report titled "Anatomy of a Genocide" to the UN Human Rights Council.
When questioned about whether her report had resulted in threats, Albanese confirmed, "Yes, I do receive threats. Nothing that so far I considered needing extra precautions. Pressure? Yes, and it doesn't change either my commitment or the results of my work."
Albanese did not disclose who issued the threats nor elaborated on their nature. However, she did mention that since her tenure in 2022, she had been constantly attacked.
"It's been a difficult time," she said. "I've always been attacked since the very beginning of my mandate."
