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An independent United Nations body has strongly criticized several European ministers for what it described as “vicious attacks” driven by disinformation against Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories. The controversy has intensified debates around Israel, Gaza, and the role of UN human rights experts.
Over the past week, governments including Germany, France, and Italy called for Albanese’s resignation following allegations that she labeled Israel a “common enemy of humanity.” Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer, has firmly denied making such remarks. A transcript of her February 7 speech in Doha, reviewed by Reuters, reportedly does not contain the quoted statement, although she has been consistently critical of Israel’s actions during the Gaza conflict.
The UN Coordination Committee, which oversees and supports Special Rapporteurs, accused certain European officials of relying on “manufactured facts.” The committee argued that instead of targeting Albanese for carrying out her mandate, political leaders should focus on accountability for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including cases that could be examined by the International Criminal Court.
The committee further warned that the pressure against Albanese reflects a broader pattern of politically motivated attacks against independent UN human rights experts, international judges, and officials monitoring global human rights crises.
The situation escalated after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Albanese. This followed her letters to American companies, in which she alleged their involvement in serious human rights violations linked to Israel’s activities in Gaza and the West Bank.
UN Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to investigate and document specific human rights concerns. While they operate independently, there is no established precedent for removing a rapporteur mid-term. Although member states could theoretically introduce a motion within the 47-member council, diplomats suggest strong backing for Palestinian rights makes such action unlikely to succeed.
