UN human rights rapporteurs have also denounced the “double standards” of countries supporting Israel’s devastating war on Gaza.
United Nations human rights experts have warned that Israel risks becoming an international “pariah” because of its “genocide” in Gaza, suggesting the country’s UN membership could be in doubt.
On Monday, several independent UN experts denounced what they called Israel’s escalation of violence and human rights violations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, its disregard for the rulings of international courts and its verbal attacks on the UN itself.
The rapporteurs, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but not speaking on behalf of the UN, also castigated the “double standards” of Western countries in the devastating war and said Israel must face consequences for its actions.
“I think it is inevitable that Israel will become a pariah in the face of its continued, relentless and defamatory attacks on the United Nations, in addition to millions of Palestinians,” said Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, citing verbal and military attacks on UN facilities in Gaza.
“Should we consider joining this organization, for which Israel seems to have no respect?”
The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza after more than 11 months of conflict has also raised questions about Western states’ long-standing political and military support for Israel, including from the United States and the United Kingdom, both of which supply weapons.
“It is shocking that in the face of the abyss that has been reached (in the occupied Palestinian territory)… most member states have remained at best inactive, or have actively aided and abetted Israel’s criminal conduct,” Albanese said at a news conference in Geneva on Monday, repeating allegations of genocide.
Albanese, an Italian lawyer, said she was referring to Western states as well as some Gulf countries and others.
Israel denies allegations of genocide and says it is taking steps to reduce the risk of harm to civilians and that at least a third of the 41,118 Palestinians killed in Gaza were combatants.
Israel’s permanent mission to the UN in Geneva criticized Albanese after his comments.
“She is not fit to hold any position in the United Nations, and that has been made clear by many people,” he said.
Albanese was joined by three other independent UN experts who accused Western countries of hypocrisy and double standards, for example being more vocal about Russia’s human rights abuses since its invasion of Ukraine than about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
George Katrougalos, the UN special rapporteur on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, also called on Israel to uphold the same standards as all other countries. He condemned its repeated attacks on critical UN officials and agencies.
“We can no longer tolerate this kind of double standards and hypocrisy,” Katrougalos told reporters.
“I hope this will not continue… I trust that the progressive and democratic citizens of Israel will not let their country become a pariah like South Africa became during the apartheid era.”
These experts are among dozens of independent human rights experts mandated by the UN to report and advise on specific issues and crises. Their views do not reflect those of the world body as a whole.
