UN Rapporteur Accuses Israel of Gaza Genocide, Demands Global Action

UN Special Rapporteur calls for concrete action on 'genocidal' Gaza occupation

A United Nations expert has urged nations to sever all ties with Israel, accusing it of pursuing “genocidal” policies in Gaza during a high-profile international conference aimed at halting the war. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Occupied Palestinian Territories, delivered the appeal to delegates from 30 countries gathered in Bogotá, Colombia, this week, calling for comprehensive sanctions against Israel’s military, economic, and diplomatic operations.

The conference, co-hosted by South Africa and Colombia, convened representatives from developing nations alongside Spain, Ireland, China, Qatar, and Turkey to discuss strategies to pressure Israel into ending its military campaign. Over 58,000 Palestinians have been reported killed in Gaza since Israel’s offensive began in response to Hamas’ October 2023 attack, which left 1,139 Israelis dead and over 200 taken hostage. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, whose casualty figures are widely cited by the UN despite not distinguishing civilians from combatants, provides the toll.

Albanese described Israel’s actions as part of a decades-long pattern of forced displacement, criticizing the U.S. for its “total complicity” in enabling policies she claimed now openly envision transforming Gaza into a “construction site” for a “Mediterranean Riviera.” Israel, which has repeatedly denied genocide allegations as antisemitic, argues its military operations target Hamas militants.

Analysts questioned the practical impact of the gathering, noting most participating nations lack direct leverage over Israel. Sandra Borda, an international relations scholar at Bogotá’s Los Andes University, characterized U.S. efforts to sway Israel as ineffective but said the event allows Global South countries to assert their stance. “This is about clarifying positions, not immediate change,” she noted.

The meeting highlighted growing multilateral maneuvers against Israel. South Africa, drawing parallels between Palestinian conditions and its apartheid past, has led efforts to isolate Israel through trade cuts and legal challenges, including supporting an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Colombia suspended coal exports to Israel in 2023, while EU members debate measures like settlement import bans and arms embargoes.

Colombian Vice Foreign Minister Mauricio Jaramillo framed Israel’s conduct as a challenge to global norms, stating participants would explore judicial and diplomatic steps to enforce compliance with international law. The Hague Group—eight nations committed to curtailing military links with Israel—also joined discussions.

The conference underscores deepening international fractures over the conflict, now in its ninth month, as civilian casualties mount and cease-fire negotiations stall. While concrete outcomes remain uncertain, the gathering signals intensified scrutiny of Israel’s alliances amid allegations of systemic human rights violations.

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