Representatives from United Nations member states convened in Geneva to address the contentious report released by Francesca Albanese, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Just days prior to this meeting, the U.S. Mission to the U.N. called for Albanese’s dismissal, citing a long-standing pattern of antisemitism and bias against Israel in her work. Albanese’s report, titled “From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide,” characterizes Israel as a regime of “settler-colonial apartheid” and accuses various corporations of contributing to what she terms Israel’s “ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza.”
Opening the session, Albanese described Israel’s actions as part of one of history’s cruelest genocides, stating that the country has exploited this violence to test advanced military technologies including drones and radar systems. Albanese’s rhetoric was met with support from Ibrahim Khraishi, the Palestinian envoy, who praised her detailed analysis linking corporate interests with Israel’s actions. In his response, Khraishi criticized the U.S. Mission’s allegations of antisemitism against Albanese, suggesting that true antisemitism stems from supporting what he termed a “genocidal government,” referring to Israel.
Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of U.N. Watch, emerged as a key dissenting voice during the discussion, emphasizing that Albanese’s report contains numerous accusations of genocide against Israel without acknowledging the context of ongoing conflict and terrorism, particularly the attacks by Hamas. Neuer pointed out that the report fails to mention the violence instigated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which he argued is critical for understanding the situation. He framed Israel’s military response as an appropriate defense against a terrorist organization that purposely targets civilians.
Though the Israeli delegation was absent, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Daniel Meron, issued a robust condemnation of Albanese’s claims. He accused her of promoting terrorism propaganda, calling her report inflammatory and legally unfounded. Meron further asserted that Albanese’s allegations of genocide and apartheid mischaracterized a nation acting solely to defend itself. He noted the report’s omission of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Iranian threat, claiming that it perpetuates a distorted narrative that undermines the realities faced by Israel amidst ongoing attacks.
Albanese also criticized institutions such as the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), labeling it a “death trap” designed to manipulate aid efforts for political purposes. This statement was echoed by Khraishi, who also referred to the GHF negatively. In contrast, GHF representatives defended their operations, citing their success in delivering millions of meals to Palestinian families and their commitment to ensuring aid is not intercepted by Hamas. The organization emphasized its offer to collaborate with critics on effective aid distribution, which was reportedly declined.
The U.S. Mission to the U.N. reinforced its stance against Albanese by urging her removal and denouncing her recent actions as a continuation of her alleged antisemitism. They claimed she has engaged in a campaign targeting corporations with baseless allegations of complicity in human rights violations. Additionally, her previous remarks attracted condemnation from countries like France and Germany. Albanese faced backlash for suggesting that the victims of the October 7 attacks were not specifically targeted for their Judaism, but due to Israel’s oppressive actions. This perspective incited significant controversy, as it appeared to dismiss the broader implications of antisemitism and violence against Jewish communities.
