UN Rapporteur Accuses EU of Complicity in Palestinian Crisis

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has criticized the European Union (EU) and its member states for their role in exacerbating the crisis in Palestine. Speaking at a press conference in the European Parliament in Brussels on October 3, 2023, Albanese emphasized that European governments are failing to meet their international obligations, particularly in relation to Gaza.

Albanese stated that the EU’s policies are not merely inactive but actively contribute to the worsening situation for Palestinians. She pointed out that the failure to suspend the EU-Israel trade agreement, particularly due to opposition from countries like Germany and Italy, reflects a grave oversight. “It is a very grave situation that, particularly due to the objections of Germany and Italy, the suspension of the trade agreement has still not gone forward,” she said.

The rapporteur highlighted the ongoing military and economic ties between the EU and Israel, including arms transfers and Israel’s participation in the EU’s Horizon Europe research program. Albanese asserted that these connections underscore the EU’s complicity in the destruction of Palestine. “In my view, the situation is so dire that it is beyond comment,” she added.

Concerns Over Human Rights Violations

Albanese’s remarks included a stark warning about the rise of violence against Palestinians, describing what she termed “ethnic cleansing” in the West Bank. “There is an ethnic cleansing in the West Bank that is almost unprecedented in the last 80 years, and with extraordinary violence,” she stated. She pointed out that many violent settlers in the area hold European citizenship and criticized the involvement of European nationals in the Israeli military.

As the situation deteriorates, she questioned how meaningful discussions about a two-state solution could be in light of the ongoing violence and land confiscation. “How can we talk about two states when the population is disappearing, when much of the land on which the independent State of Palestine was to be established has been destroyed or is under occupation?” Albanese asked, emphasizing the urgency of the crisis.

She further claimed that the EU’s current stance could amount to complicity in what she described as a “new genocide,” warning that this undermines the fundamental values of the bloc.

Albanese also addressed the implications of Donald Trump‘s controversial 20-point plan for Gaza, which she argued does not align with international law. She referenced the International Court of Justice ruling from the previous year, which deemed Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank unlawful. “Compensation is required for violence against Palestinians, and displaced people must be allowed to return,” she insisted.

Call for Action and Change

When questioned about the disarmament of Hamas, Albanese reaffirmed the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people, stating that they should have the freedom to elect their own leaders. “Just as Israelis can elect a criminal, Palestinians can also vote for someone the international community does not like, or not. But that is not our concern. What concerns us is that Palestinians live freely and in peace — just like Israelis,” she said.

Albanese concluded her address with a renewed call for the immediate suspension of the EU–Israel military cooperation agreement, pressing for a reevaluation of the EU’s role in the ongoing conflict. Her statements reflect a growing concern among international observers regarding the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and the responsibilities of global powers to act in accordance with international law.