GENEVA: The United Nations special rapporteur on the rights situation in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, warned on Monday that Israel’s “genocidal violence” in Gaza risked spreading to other parts of the occupied Palestinian territories amid a large-scale Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank.
In a statement, Albanese highlighted the dangerous escalation of violence, noting that Israel’s recent intensified operations in the West Bank could exacerbate the situation and lead to further violence across the Palestinian territories. The West Bank, which is geographically separated from Gaza by Israeli territory, has seen a surge in violence since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October.
“The writing is on the wall, and we cannot continue to ignore it,” Albanese stated. “There is mounting evidence that no Palestinian is safe under Israel’s unfettered control.” She emphasized that Israel’s actions could risk spilling the violence from Gaza into the West Bank and beyond.
Albanese, who is appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but does not represent the United Nations itself, has consistently accused Israel of committing acts of genocide in its military campaign in Gaza. Her comments follow a recent escalation in violence in the West Bank, where the Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry reported that at least 26 Palestinians have been killed since last Wednesday during Israeli raids across the northern region.
The UN and various international actors have called for an end to the large-scale Israeli operations in the Palestinian territories, which have been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Albanese condemned an overall process of “elimination, replacement, and territorial expansion,” and criticized the international community for its inaction.
“Apartheid Israel is targeting Gaza and the West Bank simultaneously, as part of an overall process of elimination,” she said. “The long-standing impunity granted to Israel is enabling the de-Palestinisation of the occupied territory, leaving Palestinians at the mercy of the forces pursuing their elimination as a national group.”
Albanese urged the international community to take immediate action to end the risk of genocide, ensure accountability, and ultimately halt Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories. Her call comes amid a relentless bombardment campaign by Israel in Gaza, which, according to the Gaza health ministry, has resulted in the deaths of at least 40,786 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike targeted the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in northern Gaza City. The airstrike struck the hospital’s vicinity, causing widespread panic among patients and residents. People were fleeing the area and emergency medical staff was struggling to attend to the wounded patients.
Saturday’s attack was part of a broader pattern of Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza. The al-Ahli Arab Hospital had previously been struck during the early stages of the ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign, leading to significant casualties as people sought refuge within its grounds.
The Gaza Health Ministry condemned the latest attack, describing it as part of a series of deliberate assaults on medical facilities. The ministry issued a statement urging international and UN bodies to protect hospitals and medical personnel from “brutal” attacks by Israeli forces.
The ongoing Israeli military campaign since October 7, 2023, has resulted in a large number of Palestinian casualties. The death toll in Gaza has now risen to nearly 40,786, mostly women and children, with 94,060 people reported injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Over the past two days alone, Israeli forces have killed 89 Palestinians and injured 205 others in what the ministry described as “massacres” against families.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine exacerbating the crisis. The United Nations Security Council’s recent resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire has yet to be implemented, with Israeli operations persisting despite international pressure.
Israel is currently facing accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in Rafah, a southern city where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before it was invaded on May 6.
The dire conditions in Gaza are compounded by the blockade and continuous bombardment, leaving many victims trapped under rubble and rescue efforts hampered by the relentless fighting.
