– Atoofa Nasiha
Francesca Albanese has been serving as the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories since May 2022. She has repeatedly criticised violations under international law, especially concerning Gaza. Despite being sanctioned by the United States in July 2025, she has made clear that she will continue her work unbowed. Her willingness to persist under pressure has made her one of the most visible voices demanding justice for Palestinians. (Reuters, The Guardian)
“Together for Palestine”: Albanese on the Wembley Stage
At the Together for Palestine benefit concert held on September 18, 2025 at Wembley Arena, Francesca Albanese was one of the speakers among many artists, activists, and public figures. The event combined music, poetry, and speeches for Gaza relief and to amplify Palestinian voices. (The Times, Wikipedia)
She called what is happening in Gaza a “radical act of dreaming,” urging people to imagine a world where justice is not delayed. (The Times)
She said, “Relinquish an inch of your privilege, so that an entire people do not have to lose everything.”
She also said, “There is not a single decent expert that you can call an expert today that does not call what is happening in Gaza a genocide.” (Instagram Reel of the event)
These statements reflect her continued emphatic stance: that the suffering must be acknowledged as genocide, that international experts must speak up, and that those with privilege must act rather than remain passive.
Her Latest Reports and Criticism: Geographical & Legal Warnings
On September 15, 2025 in Geneva, Albanese said Israel is trying to make Gaza City unliveable and accused Israel of actions that could amount to ethnic cleansing. She moaned about “bombing using unconventional weapons … It is trying to forcibly evacuate Palestinians. Why? This is the last piece of Gaza that needs to be rendered unliveable before advancing the ethnic cleansing of that piece of land.” She also asserted that these tactics endanger both civilians in Gaza and the remaining Israeli hostages. (Reuters)
She has insisted that the global community is not doing enough to enforce international law and protect civilians. Her reports continue to name companies she believes are complicit, calling for arms embargos and legal accountability. (The Guardian)
U.S. Sanctions & The Principle Behind Her Persistence
Earlier in July 2025, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Albanese, accusing her of using her UN role to push for illegitimate prosecutions. She responded by warning that the sanctions could set a dangerous precedent for human rights defenders. She said, “There are no red lines anymore … It is scary,” pointing out how the sanctioning of a UN expert diminishes the ability of others to speak truthfully. (Reuters)
Why Her Voice Still Matters
Albanese’s role continues to be crucial at a moment when international law is under pressure. She is part of growing calls for accountability whether through naming corporate complicity, urging legal action, or insisting that states implement the rulings of bodies like the International Court of Justice. Her speeches at Together for Palestine and in Geneva show that she understands symbolic power is not enough; what matters is enforcing rights, even when it is uncomfortable for powerful nations.
