UN Rapporteur Alabanyzi Accuses Israel of Systematic Targeting of Palestinian Civilians
Evidence emerges regarding the killing of rescuers in Rafah, raising calls for international investigation into alleged war crimes.
Francesca Albanizi, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, has stated that recent video evidence regarding the killings of paramedics in Rafah, southern Gaza, contradicts the official Israeli narrative.
She described the actions depicted in the footage as deliberate and indicative of a systematic policy to target civilians.
Albanizi asserted that these actions rise to the level of 'genocide,' amidst what she characterized as an alarming silence from the international community.
The video, published by a major news organization, reportedly shows Israeli forces targeting ambulances and civil defense vehicles, which were displaying active emergency lights at the time of the attack.
This stands in stark contrast to Israeli claims that the vehicles moved in a suspicious manner.
Albanizi emphasized that the killings of paramedics and aid workers are not isolated incidents but part of a broader context of violence against the Palestinian population that has escalated since October 7, 2023.
Albanizi stated that the bodies of the victims and their vehicles appear to have been buried intentionally to conceal evidence, suggesting a deliberate strategy to hide crimes against civilians.
She criticized Israel for transforming Gaza into an open war zone devoid of adherence to international law, noting that hundreds of journalists and healthcare workers have been killed over the past 16 months without accountability.
The government media office in Gaza has called for an urgent and independent international investigation into what it termed 'complete war crimes.' In response to Israeli military claims, Albanizi argued that there is no justification for the killing of individuals simply for approaching soldiers in clearly marked aid vehicles.
She described the ongoing violence as a 'systematic crushing' of Palestinian life, claiming lives are being targeted under the pretext of security while infrastructure is destroyed and policies of starvation are enforced.
Israeli media has reported that the claims in the video conflict with military assertions that the vehicles were not equipped with emergency lights and that their mission had not been communicated to its forces.
Albanizi noted that Israel's behavior reflects not only a blatant disregard for international law but also a systematic policy to obscure evidence and prevent accountability for these actions.
She stated that the international community's silence is emboldening further violations.
In related remarks, Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, corroborated claims of similar incidents, indicating that aid workers have been brutally killed and buried near their destroyed vehicles.
Albanizi also criticized the stance of Western governments in support of Israel, arguing that such actions pave the way for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than safeguarding international law.
She indicated that the priority has shifted to protecting Netanyahu instead of addressing the needs of Palestinians amidst accusations of war crimes against him.
Furthermore, Albanizi warned that continued international silence could lead to a 'revolution against regimes that crush freedoms,' pointing to increasing global protests against oppressive policies, which are often met with repressive measures that exacerbate humanitarian and legal crises.
She described the actions depicted in the footage as deliberate and indicative of a systematic policy to target civilians.
Albanizi asserted that these actions rise to the level of 'genocide,' amidst what she characterized as an alarming silence from the international community.
The video, published by a major news organization, reportedly shows Israeli forces targeting ambulances and civil defense vehicles, which were displaying active emergency lights at the time of the attack.
This stands in stark contrast to Israeli claims that the vehicles moved in a suspicious manner.
Albanizi emphasized that the killings of paramedics and aid workers are not isolated incidents but part of a broader context of violence against the Palestinian population that has escalated since October 7, 2023.
Albanizi stated that the bodies of the victims and their vehicles appear to have been buried intentionally to conceal evidence, suggesting a deliberate strategy to hide crimes against civilians.
She criticized Israel for transforming Gaza into an open war zone devoid of adherence to international law, noting that hundreds of journalists and healthcare workers have been killed over the past 16 months without accountability.
The government media office in Gaza has called for an urgent and independent international investigation into what it termed 'complete war crimes.' In response to Israeli military claims, Albanizi argued that there is no justification for the killing of individuals simply for approaching soldiers in clearly marked aid vehicles.
She described the ongoing violence as a 'systematic crushing' of Palestinian life, claiming lives are being targeted under the pretext of security while infrastructure is destroyed and policies of starvation are enforced.
Israeli media has reported that the claims in the video conflict with military assertions that the vehicles were not equipped with emergency lights and that their mission had not been communicated to its forces.
Albanizi noted that Israel's behavior reflects not only a blatant disregard for international law but also a systematic policy to obscure evidence and prevent accountability for these actions.
She stated that the international community's silence is emboldening further violations.
In related remarks, Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, corroborated claims of similar incidents, indicating that aid workers have been brutally killed and buried near their destroyed vehicles.
Albanizi also criticized the stance of Western governments in support of Israel, arguing that such actions pave the way for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than safeguarding international law.
She indicated that the priority has shifted to protecting Netanyahu instead of addressing the needs of Palestinians amidst accusations of war crimes against him.
Furthermore, Albanizi warned that continued international silence could lead to a 'revolution against regimes that crush freedoms,' pointing to increasing global protests against oppressive policies, which are often met with repressive measures that exacerbate humanitarian and legal crises.
