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Cairo, The Occupied Palestinian Territory is engulfed in unrelenting violence, with recent testimonies from Palestinians and other witnesses revealing increasingly severe atrocities since the start of Israel’s assault on Gaza over six months ago, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The situation is worsening, with deeper levels of violence, suffering, and devastation.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Albanese made her comments after concluding a visit to Egypt and Jordan. She stated that Israel’s refusal to grant her access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory forced her to report on the situation from neighboring states. This indirect observation revealed that the conditions in Gaza are more dire than previously understood, with significant long-term consequences.
Albanese noted that most of the victims she encountered had experienced severe injuries, witnessed the loss of family members, and faced the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure. These grim realities persisted even after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ruling on January 26, 2024, ordering Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza.
Patients arriving in Egypt now include those with chronic illnesses and malnutrition, in addition to those with explosive-related injuries. “Photos from a mere eight months ago show a chubby-cheeked 8-year-old Hamid, now rake thin and spending his days in excruciating pain due to pancreatitis developed through the harsh conditions of the siege,” said Albanese.
The Special Rapporteur described the psychological toll on those who managed to leave Gaza, mentioning that many suffer from survivor’s guilt and severe trauma. Furthermore, crucial humanitarian aid, including water desalination equipment and oxygen cylinders, sits idle in warehouses just 50 kilometers from Gaza, barred from entry due to Israeli restrictions.
Albanese called the humanitarian measures implemented so far inadequate, stating that airdrops and maritime corridors are insufficient to address the humanitarian crisis. “Israel has reneged on its international obligations to a degree that warrants a call for sanctions,” she said, emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire and international action to end the violence.
The Special Rapporteur’s visit underscored the critical role of the UN Relief and Works Agency in supporting Palestinians. Albanese urged the international community to assume responsibility for humanitarian operations to alleviate the burden on surrounding countries like Egypt, which cannot bear the full impact of Israel’s actions.
Albanese concluded her remarks by calling for a UN-led protective presence to ensure peace and stability in the region. She also highlighted the ongoing abuses in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where increased restrictions, arbitrary detention, and extrajudicial killings by Israeli soldiers and armed settlers persist.
The UN Special Rapporteur called for immediate action to prevent further atrocities, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire, sanctions against Israel, and measures to halt the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. A full report is expected to be released in the near future.