Khaberni - The UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, stated that the world has given Israel free rein to torture Palestinians, calling the practice a "state policy" in Israel.
This came during the presentation of the latest report by the UN expert to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, today Monday.
The UN expert described life in the occupied territories as "a continuous series of physical and psychological suffering," saying "Israel has effectively been granted a license to torture Palestinians, as most of your governments and ministers have allowed it."
According to Albanese's report, Israel practices systematic torture against Palestinians on a scale "indicative of collective vengeance and a destructive intent," where the report confirms that the torture extends beyond prison walls, in what can only be described as a "torture environment imposed by Israel across all the occupied Palestinian territories."
She pointed out that "torture destroys the fundamentals of life, robs human dignity, and leaves nothing but empty shadows," emphasizing that the testimonies she and many others document are not just tragic stories of suffering, "but are evidence of monstrous crimes targeting the entire Palestinian people throughout the occupied land, through a series of criminal behaviors."
Albanese warned that the international response will be a test of the collective legal and moral responsibility of states. She continued, "Ignoring international law will not stop at Palestine. It is already evident from Lebanon to Iran, across the Gulf states, and in Venezuela. If unchecked, it will extend much further."
Call to Prosecute Occupation Leaders
In her report, the UN expert called for the issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
The report discusses "Israel's systematic use of torture against Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories since October 7, 2023."
The UN expert reported in her report that since October 2023, "the arrests of Palestinians in the occupied territories have escalated significantly," with more than 18,500 individuals detained, including at least 1,500 children.
The report notes that about 9,000 Palestinians are still detained, while "more than 4,000 people have undergone enforced disappearances."
Albanese confirmed that the Israeli detention system "has slipped into a system of systematic and widespread humiliation, coercion, and terror."
Israeli Attack
After her presentation, the Israeli mission in Geneva accused Francesca Albanese of being an "agent of chaos." They stated that "any document she issues is merely incendiary political rhetoric," accusing her of "promoting extremist dangerous narratives with the aim of undermining the existence of the state of Israel."
The UN expert faces harsh criticism and accusations of anti-Semitism, as Israel and some of its allies have called for her dismissal due to her continuous criticisms and repeated accusations against Israel of committing "genocide."
Israel has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured 172,000 others, since it launched a genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, that caused widespread destruction affecting 90% of the infrastructure.
