Israeli ‘cruelty’ in Gaza, blatant defiance of int'l law unacceptable: UN rapporteur

By Merve Berker

The UN’s special rapporteur on Palestine on Monday criticized the “cruelty” of Israel on Palestinians, urging the international community to increase “external pressure” on the country to stop “Gaza genocide.”

“More horror in the #GazaGhetto,” Francesca Albanese said on X.

“The Israeli occupation forces have bombed a camp for displaced Palestinians in #Rafah, causing plastic tents to catch fire and tragically burning people alive,” she lamented.

“This cruelty, along with blatant defiance of the int'l law and system, is unacceptable,” the official criticized.

Albanese further called on the international community: “The #GazaGenocide‌ will not easily end without external pressure: Israel must face sanctions, justice, suspension of agreements, trade, partnership and investments, as well as participation in int'l forums.”

Israel has killed nearly 36,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.

The military campaign has turned much of the enclave of 2.3 million people into ruins, leaving most civilians homeless and at risk of famine.

The attack comes despite a ruling by the International Court of Justice that ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.