Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon is pressing for the resignation of Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestine, due to recent statements where she accused Israel of engaging in genocide against Palestinians.
Danon demanded Albanese’s resignation after her remarks at a UN committee session, where she described recent actions by Israel in Gaza as part of a coordinated campaign to eliminate the Palestinian population from their land.
Danon asserted that such views represent deep-seated bias and argued that her presence within the UN undermines its moral standards.
Albanese, who has faced accusations of anti-Semitism in the past from Israeli representatives, previously characterized Israel’s response to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, as part of a state-led operation to forcibly displace Palestinians.
As a UN special rapporteur, Albanese operates independently, though her mandate comes from the UN Human Rights Council, which maintains a position of neutrality.
In response to the criticisms, she defended her stance, expressing that the focus should remain on the plight of Palestinians at risk of displacement rather than on controversies surrounding her statements.
Her remarks also brought about condemnation from the United States.
UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield described Albanese as unqualified for her role, insisting that the UN should uphold its standards of impartiality, particularly concerning human rights.
Israel’s mission to the UN in Geneva supported Danon’s position by asserting that Albanese’s rhetoric consistently undermines Israel’s historical legitimacy and criticizing her portrayal of the Israeli response to the recent Hamas attacks.
The statement from the Israeli mission accused her of persistently engaging in activities that misrepresent international law and promote views that harm the reputation of the UN.
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