Francesca Albanese, a United Nations investigator, delivered her latest report on Israeli human rights abuses in Gaza and the West Bank from South Africa, citing United States sanctions that prevented her from presenting in person. Albanese criticized world nations for failing to confront these sanctions, describing them as an attack on the independence and integrity of the United Nations. Her report reiterated strong accusations against Israel's actions in Gaza, labeling them as 'genocide' and 'apartheid,' and called for a permanent end to the fighting and a full Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territories.

The United States and Israel have rejected Albanese's claims, with officials accusing her of bias and supporting antisemitism and terrorism, charges she firmly denies. The sanctions have sparked debate within the United Nations, with some officials calling for their reversal and others condemning personal attacks against Albanese. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and widespread displacement, with recent escalations threatening the fragile ceasefire.

Albanese urged member countries to move beyond declarations and take concrete steps to uphold justice and human rights in the region. She warned that labeling temporary ceasefires as peace plans while violence and occupation persist is misleading and undermines true diplomacy.