UN’s Francesca Albanese report accusing Israel of genocide

Written by Al Jazeera

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, has issued a report on the war in Gaza.

In the report, she said there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Israel is carrying out a genocide in the Strip.

  • Albanese said evidence – gathered from organisations on the ground, investigative reports and consultations with affected people – suggests that Israel has committed at least three of five acts that fall under the UN Genocide Convention.
  • These are “killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to the group’s members; and deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”.
  • Albanese noted that Israel has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7. A further 12,000 are reported missing, presumed dead under the rubble. More than 70 percent of the recorded deaths have been women and children and Israel has failed to prove that the remaining 30 percent – adult males – were active Hamas fighters, she said.
  • Israel’s heightened blockade of Gaza is also resulting in deaths by starvation, including that of 10 children daily.
  • Albanese noted that Israeli forces have wounded more than 70,000 Palestinians and detained thousands of Palestinian men and boys, subjecting them to torture and mistreatment.
  • Albanese also said Israel has destroyed or severely damaged most of Gaza’s life-sustaining infrastructure, including hospitals and agricultural land.

What you need to know about UN expert’s report accusing Israel of genocide

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, has issued a report on the war in Gaza.

In the report, she said there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Israel is carrying out a genocide in the Strip.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Albanese said evidence – gathered from organisations on the ground, investigative reports and consultations with affected people – suggests that Israel has committed at least three of five acts that fall under the UN Genocide Convention.
  • These are “killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to the group’s members; and deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”.
  • Albanese noted that Israel has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7. A further 12,000 are reported missing, presumed dead under the rubble. More than 70 percent of the recorded deaths have been women and children and Israel has failed to prove that the remaining 30 percent – adult males – were active Hamas fighters, she said.
  • Israel’s heightened blockade of Gaza is also resulting in deaths by starvation, including that of 10 children daily.
  • Albanese noted that Israeli forces have wounded more than 70,000 Palestinians and detained thousands of Palestinian men and boys, subjecting them to torture and mistreatment.
  • Albanese also said Israel has destroyed or severely damaged most of Gaza’s life-sustaining infrastructure, including hospitals and agricultural land.
29 March: @krystalball breaking down UN report in the wake of the State Department’s attacking its author, Francesca Albanese, as anti-Semitic because of the horrifying details of evidence that Israel committing genocide
Accusing Francesca of being anti-semitic in press conference
28 March: German journalist asking ridiculous question and Francesca’s response was excellent
“By making repeated claims which have been systematically discredited, that Hamas used hospitals as operation centres, Israel appears to be operating on the premise that if you tell a lie long enough, people will believe it”
South African representative on the intimidation of Francesca Albanese
Francesca Albanese on anti-semitism

Written by Al Jazeera