On Monday, human rights experts from the United Nations cautioned that Israel is at risk of becoming an international “pariah” due to its ongoing actions in Gaza—actions that have led to genocide charges at the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the UN.
The special correspondents—appointed by the U.N., yet not official spokespersons—expressed strong condemnation of Israel’s human rights abuses against Palestinians, as well as its overt defiance of international law and numerous judgements from the ICJ.
These judgements include an advisory opinion stating that the 57-year Israeli occupation of Palestine is an unlawful form of apartheid that should cease immediately, and mandates for Israeli forces to desist from committing actions akin to genocide in Gaza and to immediately stop the Rafah offensive.
During a press conference, George Katrougalos, the U.N. special correspondent on the advocacy of democratic and fair international order and a former Greek foreign minister, stated that the “primary obligation” for peaceful relations between nations “is for everyone to respect the rules of the United Nations.”
“Israel is failing to do so,” Katrougalos pointed out.
The United Nations body responsible for Palestinian aid reports that approximately 200 of its staff members have lost their lives in over 450 Israeli strikes on agency facilities since October. Over 500 Palestinians have been killed while seeking sanctuary under the U.N. symbol.
In total, more than 146,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured by Israeli forces since October. Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants have been forcibly displaced, and Israel’s “total siege” has resulted in widespread—and occasionally fatal—starvation and illness throughout the coastal region.
When comparing the global community’s response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war on Gaza, Katrougalos emphasized that “we can no longer tolerate these double standards and hypocrisy.”
“I am confident that the progressive and democratic citizens of Israel would not allow their country to become a pariah like South Africa during the era of apartheid,” he added. South Africa is spearheading the genocide lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ.
Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special correspondent on the rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, expressed, “I believe it’s inevitable for Israel to become a pariah due to its persistent, unyielding, and vilifying assault on the United Nations, in addition to millions of Palestinians.”
“Shockingly, in light of the abyss reached in the OPT… most member states remained passive at best, or [are] actively aiding and abetting Israel’s criminal behavior,” she continued.
“Should Israel’s membership in this organization, which it appears to have no respect for, be reconsidered?” Albanese posed.
Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the U.N. special correspondent on the rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, cautioned that “we are undermining the United Nations if we do not respond” to Israel’s human rights abuses.
Arrojo-Agudo further noted that, similar to starvation, Israel is using water deprivation as a “weapon”. He rejected Israel’s claim that Hamas—which initiated the October 7 attack on Israel—has “entirely mishandled water in Gaza.”
The comments from the special correspondents were made as representatives of U.N. member states assembled in New York for this year’s annual General Assembly. The general debate sessions are scheduled for the upcoming week.
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