Francesca Albanese: Israel's policy in the West Bank and Gaza aims for the extermination of Palestinians
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian human rights, warns that Israel's recent cabinet decisions signify a systematic policy aimed at the complete annexation of occupied Palestinian territories.
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Palestine, expressed grave concerns regarding recent decisions by the Israeli cabinet concerning the occupied West Bank. She views these actions as part of a systematic approach aimed at the complete annexation of Palestinian territories, which she argues represent a blatant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions. Albanese cautions that such developments, while alarming, are not surprising given the long-standing historical context of Israel's governance over these areas.
In her remarks during an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher, Albanese asserted that the ongoing Israeli occupation is illegal and that what is often referred to as disputed territories are, in fact, occupied Palestinian lands. She particularly highlighted the recent comments made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who discussed enhancing control over the land and undermining the notion of a Palestinian state. Albanese noted that such rhetoric is not new and has been echoed by various Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over the decades.
Further emphasizing the continuity of these aggressive policies, Albanese criticized successive Israeli governments for their strategies that seem to systematically dismantle any aspirations for a viable Palestinian state. She highlighted that these policies contribute to a climate of oppression and further exacerbate tensions in the region, warning that the international community must respond to these threats to stability and justice in the Palestinian territories.