UN human rights expert calls for immediate ceasefire to prevent ethnic cleansing in Gaza
GENEVA — On Oct. 14, a UN human rights expert called for the international community to mediate a ceasefire between Hamas and Israeli forces and said that “Israel is seeking to justify what would amount to ethnic cleansing” in the name of self-defense.
The statement was issued by Francesca Albanese, who was appointed in 2022 to serve as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
“The United Nations and its Member States must intensify efforts to mediate an immediate ceasefire between the parties, before we reach a point of no return,” Albanese said.
Since Oct. 7, more than 1,900 Palestinians, including at least 600 children, have been killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a news release.
OHCHR further noted that over 7,600 Palestinians have been injured and more than 423,000 have been displaced since Oct. 7.
“On 12 October, Israeli forces issued an order for 1.1 million Palestinians in north Gaza to move to the south within 24 hours, amidst ongoing airstrikes,” OHCHR said. “The next day, Israeli forces reportedly began to enter Gaza in order to ‘clear’ the area.”
“Palestinians have no safe zone anywhere in Gaza, with Israel having imposed a ‘complete siege’ on the tiny enclave, with water, food, fuel and electricity unlawfully cut off,” OHCHR said. “Rafah, the only border crossing that remained partially open to the Gaza strip, was closed after damage caused by Israeli airstrikes.”
Furthermore, Human Rights Watch has reported that Israeli forces have been using white phosphorus in Gaza, putting civilians at “unnecessary risk” and violating international humanitarian law.
The following is the full statement from Francesca Albanese released on Oct. 14 regarding the situation in Gaza:
“The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel has reached fever pitch,” Albanese said.
“The United Nations and its Member States must intensify efforts to mediate an immediate ceasefire between the parties, before we reach a point of no return,” Albanese said. “The international community has the responsibility to prevent and protect populations from atrocity crimes. Accountability for international crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces and Hamas must also be immediately pursued.”
“There is a grave danger that what we are witnessing may be a repeat of the 1948 Nakba, and the 1967 Naksa, yet on a larger scale. The international community must do everything to stop this from happening again,” Albanese said.
“Israel has already carried out mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians under the fog of war,” Albanese said. “Again, in the name of self-defence, Israel is seeking to justify what would amount to ethnic cleansing.”
“Any continued military operations by Israel have gone well beyond the limits of international law. The international community must stop these egregious violations of international law now, before tragic history is repeated. Time is of the essence. Palestinians and Israelis both deserve to live in peace, equality of rights, dignity and freedom,” Albanese said.