UN rights expert Francesca Albanese calls on nations to issue arms embargo and sanctions on Israel

The UN Special Rapporteur for Palestinian Human Rights Francesca Albanese has presented her report to UN member states in Geneva and demanded member nations impose sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel.

Israel did not attend the session and has dismissed her findings.

Speaking on Tuesday, Albanese said: "I implore our member states to abide by their obligations, which start with imposing an arms embargo and sanctions on Israel, and so ensure that the future does not continue to repeat itself.

"The world now sees the bitter fruit of the impunity afforded to Israel."

Albanese also argued that she found reasonable grounds to believe Israel has committed "acts of genocide with a requisite intent" in Gaza.

Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva said the use of the word genocide was "outrageous" and said the war was against Islamist group Hamas and not Palestinian civilians.

At the session, the seats for Israel's ally the United States were left empty. Washington has previously accused the council of chronic anti-Israel bias.

Albanese, an Italian lawyer, is one of the dozens of independent human rights experts mandated by the UN to report and advise on specific themes and crises. Her views do not reflect those of the global body as a whole.

For the latest news on the Hamas-Israel war, visit https://www.sbs.com.au/news/topic/ham...

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