UN Special Rapporteur Accuses Israel of “One of the Most Heinous Genocides in Modern History”

During a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, Albanese presented her report titled “From Occupation Economy to Genocide Economy,” which examines the economic factors behind Israel’s actions against Palestinians. She stated that the situation in the occupied territories resembles “apocalypse” and accused Israel of committing genocide through destruction, isolation, and surveillance of the Palestinian population.

Israel’s Destruction of UN’s Humanitarian Role:
Albanese criticized the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Aid Foundation,” describing it as a “death trap designed to kill or force the population to flee.” She emphasized that Gazans continue to endure unimaginable suffering, with over 200,000 Palestinians killed or injured, according to official figures.

West Bank Displacement and Violence:
In the occupied West Bank, Albanese noted that Palestinians are facing the “largest forced displacement since 1967,” with armed settlers wreaking havoc and nearly 1,000 checkpoints and other barriers disrupting daily life. She reported that approximately 1,000 people have been killed, 10,000 injured, and 10,000 detained, with many subjected to torture.

Economic Gains from Genocide:
Despite the ongoing violence, Albanese highlighted that the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has seen a 213% increase in dollar terms since October 2023, reaching $67.8 billion last month and a total of $125.7 billion. She accused Israel of using the genocide as an “opportunity” to test new weapons and surveillance technologies, including drones and other military technologies.

Global Complicity:
Albanese pointed out that numerous corporations, from arms manufacturers to technology giants, banks, energy firms, and even universities, have contributed to the “erasure machine” targeting Palestinians. She called on all states to impose a full arms embargo on Israel, suspend all commercial agreements and investment ties, and urged civil society to promote behavior change through boycotts and sanctions.

Turkey’s Response:
Muzaffer Uyar Gültekin, Deputy Permanent Representative of Turkey to the UN in Geneva, stated that the occupied Palestinian territories have become a “laboratory” for surveillance technologies, autonomous weapons systems, and crowd control tactics. He emphasized that “genocide left unpunished is doomed to be repeated” and reiterated Turkey’s support for the Palestinian people and the enforcement of international law.

Palestine’s Ambassador:
Ibrahim Khraish, Palestine’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, praised Albanese for fulfilling her mandate despite threats and accusations of anti-Semitism. He argued that the real “anti-Semites” are those who support Israel’s “genocidal government” and called on countries to fulfill their legal, moral, and humanitarian responsibilities by halting arms transfers to Israel and ending cooperation with those involved in the seizure of Palestinian lands.

Casualties in Gaza:
Since the resumption of Israeli attacks on Gaza on March 18, 2024, following the collapse of a ceasefire, at least 6,454 Palestinians have been killed and 22,551 injured. Since October 7, 2023, the total death toll in Gaza has exceeded 57,012, with 134,592 injured. Additionally, systematic attacks on humanitarian aid distribution zones have resulted in 640 deaths and 4,488 injuries since May 27, 2024.