UN's Francesca Albanese urges Arab countries to do more to end Israel genocide in Gaza - Foreign Affairs
Albanese, a distinguished Italian legal scholar and expert on human rights, has served in the post since May 2022.
In February 2024, Tel Aviv banned Albanese from entering the occupied territories for her outspoken rejection, detailed in various reports to the UN, of the Israeli genocide in Gaza and the crimes committed in the occupied West Bank.
In early July, the US sanctioned Albanese for her 'illegitimate and shameful efforts' to prompt International Criminal Court prosecutions of Israeli and US officials, as well as corporations profiting from the occupation and bombardment.
Al-Masry Al-Youm asked Albanese to comment on the suggestion by some that the countries neighbouring the Gaza Strip could break the blockade and allow humanitarian aid into the strip, and the response to these suggestions by Egypt and Jordan, for example, that Israel, as an occupying power, bears responsibility.
"What is your position as a UN official? And who bears the real responsibility?" queried Al-Masry Al-Youm.
"As a UN official, I hope Egypt will do more to help the people of Gaza, but we must be clear: if the crossing is opened and aid is allowed in, Israel may bomb it. This is the cruel equation," she said.
"But what is truly required, given the impossibility of these assumptions, is for the most influential countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to use their power to tell Israel: "Stop bombing immediately, or we will cut off all forms of cooperation with you and with the United States. This is the position that can effect change," she added.
"Today, we see Israel and the United States working together to undermine the international order while committing genocide against the Palestinians. Unfortunately, I don't see any real collective action from Arab or even Western countries to stop this madness."
"Frankly, yes, I believe the major Arab countries are not doing enough to prevent this genocide. I don't even know if they describe what is happening in Gaza as "genocide," a question that should be clearly posed."
To another question about what proposals Albanese believes could help end the tragedy in Gaza, and what steps should be taken either by Israel or by the international community to stop what is happening, she replied:
'The first necessary step is to impose sanctions on Israel. UN member states must halt all arms exports to Israel and stop buying weapons and security technologies from it. This also includes Arab states, which must cease all forms of trade with Israel."
"Everyone must understand that there is no such thing as a 'good Israel' and a 'bad Israel in the settlements.' The Israeli state, with all its institutions, is committing crimes, and it must face consequences. Now is the critical moment; otherwise, the killing and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians will continue."
"The solution requires the unity of peoples and the integration of their struggles. I expect Arab countries to return to their historical traditions of uniting against a state that systematically violates international law."
"Let's reflect: Israel has bombed Syria and expanded its presence there. It has bombed Lebanon and expanded there, too. Anyone who thinks Egypt is safe just because it's not currently a target is mistaken. Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Yemen — no one is safe when a state violates international law so blatantly.'
In response to a question to characterize the large-scale military operation by Israel in Rafah in southern Gaza, transforming it into something resembling an open-air prison, amidst the most significant wave of forced displacement and evacuations since the beginning of the war, Albanese said: "It must be clear to everyone that what is happening now in Rafah or Gaza did not begin yesterday or last month. This has been the Israeli approach toward the Palestinians for decades."
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