UN Official Warns: Israeli Genocide May Expand to the West Bank
Francesca Albanese Calls for Israel's UN Suspension and Highlights Genocidal Intent Behind Ongoing Aggression in Palestine
Watan-Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, warned that Israel’s extermination of Palestinians will not be confined to Gaza but will extend to the occupied West Bank.
In a post on Platform X today, Wednesday, Albanese stated, “As the long-awaited ceasefire begins in Gaza, Israel’s killing machine has escalated its firing in the West Bank, killing 10 people in Jenin today. If not forced to stop, Israel’s extermination of Palestinians will not be confined to Gaza. Mark my words.”
The UN rapporteur also said in another post that if Israel can prevent a UN General Assembly subsidiary body from entering the territories it illegally occupies without facing consequences, “it means nothing from the UN will ever stop it.” She added, “It is time to revoke Israel’s UN membership.”
Diverting Attention
Israel had decided to ban Albanese from entering Palestinian territories, and in mid-November, the UN official stated that the decision was a “diversion from the atrocities being committed in Gaza.”
The UN rapporteur had previously called for Israel’s suspension from the United Nations. At a press conference in New York in early November, she said, “It is time to consider suspending Israel’s privileges as a member state of the UN.”
According to Albanese, the international community must recognize what is happening in Gaza as “genocide” and understand “the broader intent behind what is happening now in Palestine.” She noted that the situation in Gaza exceeds even the boundaries of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In her latest statements today on Platform X, Albanese also referred to the Palestinians’ right of return, saying, “The right of return for Palestinians, as survivors of the Nakba, will remain intact no matter the efforts Israel makes to erase it.”
In a previous tweet yesterday, Albanese mocked comments made by Trump about Gaza during his first day in office, when he said, “Gaza is interesting. It’s a tremendous location. On the sea, the best weather… Some amazing things could be done with Gaza.” Albanese sarcastically commented, “Welcome to American real estate,” referring to the commercial tone of the former president’s remarks and his disregard for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Background on UN Special Rapporteurs
Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and are tasked with studying human rights conditions and reporting on them to the Council. Their positions are honorary, and they are not UN staff nor do they receive payment for their work.
