France calls for removal of UN human rights official over Israel remarks

France has said it will call for the resignation of UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese over her comments regarding Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Albanese, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in March 2022, has repeatedly labeled Israel’s war in Gaza a “genocide,” and called for a full arms embargo and suspension of trade agreements with the country. She has been sanctioned by the US and has been facing growing calls for her dismissal, including accusations of anti-Semitism and bias.

On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris condemns what he described as “outrageous and reprehensible remarks” by Albanese that allegedly targeted “Israel as a people and as a nation.” He said France would push for her immediate resignation during the upcoming UNHRC session on February 23.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul echoed the call for Albanese to step down, while the Geneva-based NGO ‘UN Watch’ praised the move and urged other nations to support her ouster, describing her remarks as “hate and demonizing Israel” that undermine UN credibility.

Albanese dismissed the accusations as “shameful and defamatory,” saying that her statements at a recent conference in Qatar did not portray Israel as the “enemy of humanity.”

She wrote on X that “The common enemy of humanity is THE SYSTEM that has enabled the genocide in Palestine, including the financial capital that funds it, the algorithms that obscure it, and the weapons that enable it.”

The rapporteur also expressed concern in an interview with France 24 that “the plan to fully destroy Gaza continues” and denounced Israeli plans to tighten control over the West Bank.

Albanese has previously called for accountability from EU leadership, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas, for failure to exert pressure on Israel.

During the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, 251 hostages were taken and around 1,200 people killed. Israel responded with a massive military campaign in Gaza that has killed nearly 72,000 Palestinians and wounded over 171,000, according to the local health authorities.