Francesca Albanese serves as the Special Rapporteur for the Council’s mission of monitoring human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Her responsibilities include conducting investigations into violations, conducting regular visits or missions, and reporting her findings.

The Foreign Minister and Interior Minister of Israel declared that she was forbidden from entering the country due to remarks made on the internet regarding the 7 October attacks by Hamas, which initiated the ongoing conflicts in Gaza.

‘Symbolic and misleading’ 

In a statement, Ms. Albanese stated that Israel has been denying access to all UN Special Rapporteurs for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories since 2008, when they detained and deported former UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk. She also mentioned that Israel’s recent announcement to officially ban her entry is merely symbolic and deceptive.

“The statement from Israel should not be used as a distraction from the crisis in Gaza,” she stated, while also highlighting the devastating effects of the ongoing conflict, such as the loss of over 28,500 Palestinian lives, with a majority being women and children.

“Israel claims that the ban follows my comments concerning the context in which Hamas’s attacks on 7 October took place. My comments were prompted by the French President’s description of the attacks as ‘the largest antisemitic massacre of our century’”, she said.

‘Heinous attacks’ condemned 

She stated, “I have consistently denounced these atrocious attacks as acts of war that cannot be justified in any manner and for the fear and anguish they have caused among Israelis.”

I express my condolences and support for the victims, including those who are still being held hostage, as well as Jewish communities around the world. I also urge for those responsible for these crimes to be held accountable.

Challenging ‘persistent misinterpretation’ 

Although she strongly condemned the attacks, Ms. Albanese also wanted to address the ongoing misinterpretation of their root causes, especially in Western countries, where it is often falsely believed that they are driven by antisemitism.

According to leading experts in the study of the Holocaust and antisemitism, this belief is not only incorrect but also carries significant risks as it ignores the fundamental causes of the conflict and disregards the role of Israel in exacerbating it.

Some researchers have recently stated that using the Holocaust as a reference point can hinder our understanding of current antisemitism faced by Jews and inaccurately represents the root causes of violence in Israel-Palestine. While there may have been instances of antisemitism at the individual level in the attacks, the main reasons for the violence lie elsewhere.

Context matters 

Ms. Albanese emphasized the importance of considering context. She referenced the statement of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who acknowledged that the attacks by Hamas were not isolated incidents; rather, they occurred within the larger context of 56 years of oppressive occupation for the Palestinian people.

The expert on human rights emphasized that no crime can ever justify another.

“There is no justification for the horrific attacks of 7 October. However, the ‘56 years of suffocating occupation’ referred to by the Secretary-General is the very context that fuels the hatred and violence that endangers Israelis and Palestinians alike. This context is obscured by the framing of 7 October as primarily driven by antisemitism,” she said. 

Ms. Albanese mentioned that she has been working to establish official connections with Israel since the beginning of her term, but unfortunately, Israel has responded with aggression and false accusations, often fueled by politically aligned groups and media outlets.

As a member of the UN, Israel has a responsibility to adhere to international law and uphold the principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Charter.

She stated that while it may be difficult and require great effort, the key to achieving lasting peace, human security, and regional stability is by upholding international law and dismantling the system of apartheid enforced by Israel on the Palestinian people. This is because true safety cannot be achieved until it is ensured for everyone, not just a select few.

About Special Rapporteurs 

Ms. Albanese and other Special Rapporteurs are members of the Special Procedures division of the UN Human Rights Council. This division includes the largest group of independent experts in the UN human rights system.

The Council has selected them to oversee and provide updates on particular country situations or global themes across all regions.

Professionals offer their services voluntarily and are not affiliated with any government or group. They serve in their own capacity and are neither employed by the United Nations nor compensated for their contributions.

Source: news.un.org