Palestinian testimonies show depth of Israeli atrocities: UN expert
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Francesca Albanese describes those who get out of Gaza as "fractured and wracked by ‘survivors’ guilt’ and severe trauma."
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UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights Situation in the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, speaks at a press conference during a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 27, 2024. (AFP)
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, stated today that the Occupied Palestinian Territory is engulfed in a spiral of unrelenting violence, with stories relayed by Palestinians and other witnesses adding new depths to atrocities witnessed by the world since the war on Gaza began over 6 months ago.
Concluding a visit to Egypt and Jordan, Albanese expressed that the rate and speed of the spread of violence has confirmed that "no Palestinian is safe under Israel’s unfettered control."
"Israel" has yet again denied Albanese access to Gaza, forcing her to report on their plight from surrounding nations in what she believes is proof the situation is much worse than believed.
She reported that many of the victims she met had suffered catastrophic losses and injuries and had seen firsthand the scale of Israeli destruction of Gaza's health sector.
Patients who previously arrived in Egypt with explosive and war-related symptoms are now joined by those suffering from chronic ailments and/or hunger, particularly children, as a result of the intentional famine inflicted by "Israel".
“Those who have left Gaza come out fractured and wracked by ‘survivors’ guilt’ and severe trauma,” Albanese detailed.
“Just 50 kilometers away from the Gaza Strip, crucial, life-sustaining aid and goods, including water desalination equipment, first aid kits, oxygen cylinders, and portable toilets – paid for by taxpayers across the world – languish in warehouses, barred entry into Gaza on the pretext of use by combatants.”
The expert added that humanitarian measures put in place are “grossly inadequate to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe that Israel’s assault has created, as it ignores its obligations "to a degree that warrants a call for sanctions."
Int'l community must zero-in on ethnic cleansing
She also added that surrounding nations cannot absorb the impact of the Israeli aggression and displacement, urging the UN Humanitarian Coordinator to mainstream the supply chain of relief to alleviate Egypt.
Albanese underlined demands for a quick ceasefire.
The expert also shed light on the increasingly difficult situation in the West Bank, including increased reports of restrictions and abuses that entail arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial executions by Israeli forces and armed settlers.
“The focus of the international community must zero-in on the most likely implication – the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians – and States must do everything in their power to prevent it.”
Albanese stated that she had undergone the harrowing experience of meeting with Palestinians in Gaza and recorded their stories, believing that UN member nations would act to cease the massacre and guarantee accountability.
"States must insist on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and impose sanctions on Israel to avoid further calamity," she stated.
Albanese: EU obliged to cut trade with 'Israel'
The European Union is obligated to suspend its association agreement with "Israel", due to the latter's human rights violations, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestinian Territories Occupied Since 1967, Francesca Albanese told Euronews this month.
Albanese pointed to the "disconnect" between the European Union's political class and the public regarding "Israel's" aggression on the Gaza Strip. Earlier, the official had extensively detailed the crimes and human rights violations committed by "Israel" in a report she had submitted to the concerned international authorities, saying that if it were not for a word limit, her team would have written an "encyclopedia" about such genocidal crimes.
"Israel has the political, financial, and economic means to continue operating business as usual," she stressed.
"Europe is the main trading partner—which accounts I think for 30% of Israel's trade — so it has a huge power and it should use that power. In the end, this is not an option, it's an obligation because Article 2 of that association agreement foresees the suspension in case of violations of human rights," Albanese explained.
