Gaza Herald- Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, called for suspending Israel’s membership at the United Nations General Assembly and for its cultural and political boycott over its Gaza genocide.
Albanese told Anadolu Agency in London that Israel must not be a UN member, warning against remaining silent about the genocide in Gaza.
On 8 October 2023, Israel, with U.S. support, launched brutal attacks on Gaza, causing 71,000 deaths and 171,000 injuries, mostly among women and children, with massive destruction estimated at $70 billion by the UN.
On 10 October 2025, a ceasefire and prisoner exchange took place between Hamas and Israel under a U.S.-proposed plan.
Israel’s Participation Faces Criticism
Albanese criticized Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest with the song New Day Will Rise, highlighting that the cultural boycott should be accompanied by political and legal measures internationally.
Five European countries withdrew from Eurovision, and 170 Belgian artists condemned Belgium’s participation in protest of Israel’s involvement in the contest.
In May, 4,000 artists from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland urged Israel’s exclusion from Eurovision, condemning its participation as whitewashing the genocide in Gaza.
Israel Must Held Accountable
The UN Special Rapporteur added that “Israel has been violating human rights for years, but the past two years have witnessed an unprecedented level of violence.”
She stated that Israel is an illegal occupying power, an apartheid state, and is facing proceedings before the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice
Albanese urged the international community to take stronger measures against Israel and emphasized that public movements and state commitment can help end its crimes.
Pressure and Threats
Albanese highlighted the personal threats and accusations she has faced, including claims of anti-Semitism and terrorism, linking them to media attacks and U.S. sanctions.
In July, the United States sanctioned Albanese, who had extensively reported on Israel’s acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and urged that the responsible parties and individuals be held accountable.
Albanese told Anadolu Agency: “These measures have not succeeded in silencing me, because the truth cannot be silenced when confronting genocide.”
She stated that attempts to silence others have backfired, empowering more people to speak out, and expressed hope that these injustices will eventually end.
A Call for International Response
In this context, Albanese stressed that UN member states must adopt a stronger position in the General Assembly, especially concerning the U.S. sanctions targeting officials of the International Criminal Court.
She said: “Enough of this crime, enough of the pressures on UN institutions. The only way to confront this shameful chapter of history is for states and people to act together.”
The U.S. sanctioned ICC judges and prosecutors for allegedly taking anti-Israel positions, and in November 2024, the Hague court issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Galant for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza.
Albanese stressed that accountability must extend beyond states to include companies and individuals involved in Gaza’s crimes.
She said: “This is a structural issue; the situation was not better before, and we did not suddenly discover it was bad. On the contrary, today we can clearly see its severity.”
She emphasized the importance of holding officials, companies, and foreign individuals in the Israeli army accountable for their role in the genocide.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, Israel has been subject to legal action at the International Court of Justice for alleged genocide, along with ongoing investigations by the International Criminal Court into possible war crimes.
