UN Official Urges Halt to Trade with Israel Over Alleged Actions in Gaza
A United Nations representative on Thursday urged nations to sever trade and financial links with Israel, accusing it of carrying out what she described as a devastating campaign in Gaza.
Addressing the UN Human Rights Council, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, stated: “The situation in the Palestinian territories is dire.”
“Israel is accountable for one of the most severe actions in recent history,” she continued, receiving applause from attendees in Geneva, according to reports.
Israel’s diplomatic office in Geneva did not immediately comment on Albanese’s remarks.
Israel has previously denied allegations of wrongdoing in Gaza, stating its military operations are acts of self-defense following the October 2023 attack by Hamas. Its delegation was absent from the session, in line with its decision to no longer engage with the council, which it claims is biased.
Albanese presented a report identifying more than 60 companies she said had contributed to Israeli settlements and military efforts in Gaza.
“This is not just a list—it’s a system that must be addressed,” she told the council.
She urged governments to halt arms sales, suspend trade deals, and hold businesses accountable for possible breaches of international law.
Earlier this week, Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva dismissed Albanese’s report as “baseless, damaging, and a misuse of her position.”
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