Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur, has described Israel’s assault on Gaza as “genocide” and called for decisive action against it.
She stated that Israel’s economy is built on occupation and oppression, and therefore every country should immediately review and suspend all forms of relations with Israel. She added that this suspension should also apply to the private sector.
The call came during a conference jointly organized by Colombia and South Africa, attended by representatives from 30 countries. The participants discussed ways to halt Israel’s aggression in Gaza through diplomatic and legal measures.
Delegations from Spain, Ireland, China, Qatar, and Turkey also took part in the conference. South Africa’s ruling party has long compared Israel’s policies to an apartheid regime.
Many countries participating in the conference described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, since October 2023, more than 58,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks. Israel has imposed complete blockades on Gaza multiple times, pushing its 2.3 million people to the brink of extreme hunger and poverty.
Colombia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Mauricio Jaramillo, said the purpose of the conference was not only to stand with Palestine but also to defend international law and the fundamental right to live freely.
Albanese also urged the European Union to take similar action. She said the EU is legally obliged to suspend its agreements with Israel because Israel is committing blockade, apartheid, and genocide.
At present, the European Union is Israel’s largest trade and investment partner. The bloc, Albanese said, is supporting an economy that is complicit in genocide.