UN Expert Urges Arms Embargo on Israel, Citing Genocide in Gaza

A UN expert recommended sanctions and an arms embargo against Israel to the Human Rights Council, accusing it of genocide in Gaza since October 7.

Francesca Albanese, presenting her report "The Anatomy of a Genocide," asserted that Israel's actions met the criteria for genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention, referencing the killing of over 30,000 Palestinians.

Israel, absent from the session, condemned the use of the term "genocide," arguing its conflict is with Hamas, not Palestinian civilians. The nation cited a recent attack by Hamas as the conflict's trigger.

Several countries, including Qatar, Algeria, and Mauritania, supported Albanese's stance, expressing concern over the humanitarian crisis. The US, a close ally of Israel, left its seats vacant, reflecting its view of the council's bias against Israel.

Albanese, an Italian lawyer and UN-appointed human rights expert, stressed her findings are independent and not representative of the UN's views. Her comments have previously attracted criticism, including accusations of antisemitism from a US ambassador.