UN Official Slams Israeli Interference in Gaza Field Visit
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, expressed her disappointment and strong disapproval on Sunday as Israel refused to grant her permission for a field visit to Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to a recent UN report, a human rights expert has remarked that there are “reasonable grounds” to suspect that Israel is engaging in three of the five acts categorized as genocide. These acts include killing Palestinians, inflicting serious bodily or mental harm, and intentionally creating circumstances that may lead to the physical destruction of the population, either in part or as a whole.
In a statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was reported that Albanese held a meeting with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to address the topic of Israeli practices and policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In a recent statement, both officials emphasized the immediate necessity of halting Israel’s attacks on Gaza in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights laws. They highlighted the crucial importance of guaranteeing that Palestinians in the strip can receive humanitarian aid securely and without obstacles.
Furthermore, Albanese and Shoukry stressed that an end must be put to the increasing violence of the colonial settlers against the Palestinians in the West Bank, aided and abetted by the Israeli forces, and called for holding the perpetrators accountable.
Finally in #Egypt, after an intense but also very productive stay in Jordan, where I was welcome warmly and fondly by everyone, from the authorities, civil society and amazing individuals who spontaneously reached out to me, as I could not go to the West Bank and east Jerusalem.… pic.twitter.com/WjQ3cqxMsO
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) April 21, 2024
During the meeting, Shoukry pointed out that Israel’s continued war on Gaza and the increase in illegal settlement practices in the West Bank threatens to blow up the situation in all the occupied Palestinian territories, read the statement.
Shoukry also warned that Israel’s continuing brutal war on Gaza threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the strip and spread the violence beyond the occupied territories, thus destabilizing the region and jeopardizing the well-being of its people.
In addition, the foreign minister expressed regret that several countries have so far refrained from describing Israel’s practices as a blatant violation of international law, the statement concluded.
According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid, Shoukry reiterated that Israel must stop its attempts to displace the Palestinians and its policies of collective punishment and indiscriminate targeting of civilians.
Moreover, Shoukry said the responsibility for stopping Israel’s violations and rejecting any effects arising from its illegal practices in the Palestinian territories falls on the international community.
Meanwhile, the UN Rapporteur, who is visiting Egypt and Jordan, expressed deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza due to Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling on Israel to honour its obligations, as an occupying power, under international law.
Furthermore, Albanese, who has fulminated against Israel’s practices, also affirmed her commitment to continuing consultations with Egypt on ways to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinians and highly praised the pivotal role played by Cairo in mitigating the crisis in Gaza.
