UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has criticized the European Commission’s stance as “deplorable.”
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, stated that EU leaders should be held responsible for backing what she describes as Israel’s “war crimes” in Gaza.
In an interview with The Intercept on Saturday, Albanese specifically mentioned European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, saying, “The fact that the two highest figures of the EU continue business-as-usual engagements with Israel is beyond deplorable.”
The UN expert added, “I’m not someone who says, ‘History will judge them’ – they will have to be judged before then. And they will have to understand that immunity cannot equate with impunity.”
Albanese mentioned that she is preparing a report detailing the involvement of various institutions and organizations – including banks, pension funds, tech companies, and universities – in alleged crimes against the Palestinian population in Gaza.
Albanese stated, “All those implicated and involved in the unlawful occupation, in providing it with support, are aiding and abetting violations of international law and human rights violations, and a number of these amount to crimes.” She further noted, “There can be individual responsibility and individual liability for those who have been aiding and abetting or enabling such crimes.”
Albanese has repeatedly called on von der Leyen to use her position as head of the EU executive to halt the “genocide” in Gaza. She also criticized Kallas for not pressing Israel to end its military operation during her visit to Tel Aviv in March, when Kallas commented that “both sides lose” in the conflict.
Albanese wrote on X at the time: “A shocking low for the EU: one of its top leaders stands with Israel’s foreign minister, representing a state responsible for killing 50,000 people (in 16 months), 70% women and children, with Western-made weapons.”
The UN official said that she and her family have received death threats since she issued a report in March 2024 asserting that Israel’s actions should be considered genocide.
European Commission spokeswoman Gioia Franchellucci told The Intercept that Brussels is committed to international law and that the EU’s relationship with Israel allows officials to voice their “positions and concerns.”
The spokeswoman stated, “The association agreement with Israel is the legal basis of our ongoing dialogue with the Israeli authorities, and it provides mechanisms to discuss issues and advance our points of view,”
Israel initiated its operation in Gaza after a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, during which Palestinian militants killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and took around 250 hostages. According to Gazan health authorities, over 52,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict began.