UN Human Rights Council extends Francesca Albanese’s mandate despite pro-Israel opposition

𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐢 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞

The UN Human Rights Council has extended Francesca Albanese’s mandate as Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories for an additional three years, despite opposition from several pro-Israel groups, including the United States.

On Friday, during the final day of the United Nations Human Rights Council's 58th session, a vote was held to approve a second three-year term for Albanese, extending her mandate until 2028.

She had been facing mounting pressure from pro-Israel groups and politicians demanding an end to her mandate.

Several countries had expressed reluctance to support her reappointment due to her outspoken criticism of Israel.

Albanese has consistently highlighted what she describes as ethnic cleansing and genocide against Palestinians in her official reports and media appearances.

𝐏𝐫𝐨-𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The backlash against Albanese has been fuelled by figures like British Labour MP David Taylor, who accused her of justifying Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack and portraying Israel as a "settler-colonial invasion" in an interview to 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙅𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚, a pro-Israel newspaper.

Pro-Israel organisations, including UN Watch, have been at the forefront of the campaign against her.

UN Watch has published a 60-page report accusing Albanese of promoting anti-Semitism and "terrorism" under her UN role. The organisation also launched a petition urging the UNHRC to reject her reappointment.

At a recent UNHRC session in Geneva, UN Watch's director Hillel Neuer called for the immediate termination of Albanese's mandate.

Other groups, including the World Jewish Congress and the Zionist youth organisation Betar, have also targeted Albanese.

Betar allegedly threatened to attack her during a recent visit to London, referencing Israel's deadly air strikes in Lebanon last year.