UN Experts Warn Israel Could Become ‘Pariah’ Over Gaza Conflict

United Nations human rights experts have sounded the alarm, urging the international community to declare Israel a pariah state for its conduct in Gaza, which they said amounted to genocide. This expert also calls for the contention of Israeli membership in the UN and, if so, the continuation of this conduct. 

 Independent UN rapporteurs on Monday chided Israel for being increasingly violent in the Gaza Strip. They occupied territories to challenge international court jurisdiction and aggressive actions against the United Nations. That is why they stressed the necessity of Israel’s action to have detrimental consequences with the escalation of the conflict, as the latter came under increased international attention. 

 UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, stated, “ It is inevitable that Israel will turn into a pariah state because of the relentless attack on the United Nations and millions of Palestinians.” 

 The current humanitarian catastrophic situation in Gaza for over 11 months of conflict has raised concerns about the continued Western support of Israel. These countries include the United States of America and the United Kingdom, among others, and they supported Israel politically as well as through military assistance; hence, people question their involvement in the violence. 

 “Sadly, it is astonishing to find that, while reaching such an abyss in the occupied Palestinian territories, most members have either been dormant at best and actively complicit with Israel’s practices at worst,” Albanese said in a press briefing held in Geneva. She again produced a claim of genocide and claimed that it was not only the Western world that supported Israel but also some of the Gulf states. 

Israel has consistently denied the accusations of genocide, asserting that it takes steps to minimize harm to civilians. The Israeli government claims that at least a third of the 41,118 Palestinians killed in Gaza were fighters, arguing that its military operations are necessary for self-defense.

In response to Albanese’s comments, Israel’s permanent mission to the UN in Geneva issued a sharp rebuke, stating, “She is not fit to hold any position at the United Nations, and this has been made clear by many.”

Albanese was joined by other independent UN experts who accused Western nations of hypocrisy. They pointed out the disparity in the global response to Israel’s actions compared to other international crises, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. George Katrougalos, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of democratic and equitable international order, emphasized that Israel should be held to the same standards as other nations.

“We cannot continue to tolerate this double standard and hypocrisy,” Katrougalos said. He also expressed hope that Israel’s citizens would prevent the country from becoming an international outcast, similar to South Africa during the apartheid era.

These independent experts are part of a group mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to report on specific global crises. However, their views do not necessarily reflect those of the UN. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has heightened tensions globally, with calls for greater accountability and more substantial international intervention.