France Demands UN Rapporteur Albanese Resign after Gaza Remarks
France has called for the resignation of UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese following remarks she made at a conference on Gaza, despite French media confirming that a widely circulated quote attributed to her was inaccurate.
Key Developments
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot demanded the resignation of Francesca Albanese.
- The controversy followed remarks about a “common enemy of humanity” during a conference.
- French media confirmed she did not say “Israel is the enemy of humanity.”
- Dozens of French lawmakers urged the government to seek revocation of her mandate.
France Calls for Removal
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot publicly demanded that Francesca Albanese step down from her UN mandate, accusing her of statements incompatible with the neutrality expected from a UN rapporteur.
According to Le Parisien, Barrot described her remarks as “outrageous statements” and said she “no longer has legitimacy to exercise this mandate.”
He also characterized her as a “political activist spreading hateful discourse.”
Paris subsequently requested action at the United Nations level, placing the issue into diplomatic channels.
Albanese’s Remarks
The controversy originated from comments Albanese delivered during a conference discussion on Gaza and international responsibility in Doha.
According to TRT Français, she stated: “We see now that humanity has a common enemy, and respect for fundamental freedoms is the last peaceful path we have to regain our freedom.”
She later clarified the meaning of that statement.
Le Parisien reported that she explained: “The common enemy of humanity is the system that enabled genocide in Palestine — financial capital that funds it, algorithms that conceal it and the weapons that make it possible.”
The Misquotation
Political reactions followed the circulation of a different sentence widely shared online: “Israel is the common enemy of humanity.”
However, Le Parisien confirmed she never pronounced that sentence, and Albanese published the video of the speech to demonstrate the distinction.
Despite this clarification, the French government maintained its demand for her resignation.
Political Pressure in France
The executive position was reinforced by parliamentary initiatives.
TRT Français reported that dozens of French deputies called for the revocation of her mandate, accusing the rapporteur of bias and inflammatory rhetoric.
Their intervention sought not merely criticism but formal removal, marking an unusual level of domestic political mobilization against a specific UN mandate holder.
Recurring Clash
Francesca Albanese has repeatedly faced criticism from Israeli officials and allied governments due to her reports on Israeli genocidal policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, and for publicly warning that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide under international law.
Her mandate — established by the UN Human Rights Council — specifically investigates violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israeli authorities have consistently refused cooperation with rapporteurs holding the same mandate, arguing bias in its structure, while human rights organizations have defended its necessity.
France’s Military Ties to Israel
Paris has continued to export military equipment and components to Israel since October 2023, including parts used in weapons systems, according to reports and customs data cited by Amnesty International France.
French authorities have repeatedly argued that these transfers involve “components” rather than complete weapons, yet official records show ongoing defense trade and authorizations linked to Israeli military systems.
In parallel, controversy also emerged when Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was allowed to travel through French airspace despite the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court, prompting criticism from rights groups and activists who accused Paris of political double standards.
(PC, Le Parisien, TRT Français, Amnesty International France)