UN Special Rapporteur reports the dehumanization and siege of Israel’s regime against the Palestinian people.

The UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, has formally denounced on March 24 that Israel has institutionalized torture as a central component of the genocide against the Palestinian people.

In a report presented to the Human Rights Council, Albanese urgently called for the issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli ministers, holding them directly responsible for crimes against humanity.

This stark accusation comes amidst mounting international concern over the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in the region, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank.

Albanese further warned that starvation and the destruction of infrastructure are integral parts of a colonial architecture specifically designed to dehumanize Palestinians. The UN Rapporteur also raised alarm about the expansion of this genocidal “modus operandi” towards Lebanon and Iran, denouncing that Tel Aviv’s impunity, shielded by Western powers, threatens to undermine global security and international law.

Since October 7, Israel has killed 72,263 people in Gaza, predominantly women and children, and injured 171,948, according to the report.

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Una publicación compartida de Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@francesca.albanese.unsr.opt)

Colonial Architecture Unveiled

The report meticulously described the situation in the occupied territories as a sophisticated architecture of settler colonialism, meticulously crafted to dehumanize the Palestinian population. This is achieved through a multi-faceted approach involving prolonged siege, manufactured starvation, and the systematic destruction of vital infrastructure essential for human life and dignity.

Albanese underscored her findings, stating unequivocally that “torture, when systematically used against a population, is both a means of domination and evidence of genocidal intent.” This statement highlights the deliberate and pervasive nature of the practices documented, pointing to a calculated strategy rather than isolated incidents.

The report details the extensive scale of Israeli persecution since 2023, revealing that at least 18,500 Palestinians have been arrested. This alarming figure includes more than 1,500 children, who have become victims of the occupation’s judicial system. Currently, approximately 9,245 individuals remain incarcerated in detention centers under inhumane conditions. Even more concerning is the uncertain fate of another 4,000 Palestinians, who have been reported as missing following violent military incursions into the occupied territories.

The evidence compiled by the UN Rapporteur documents atrocious practices that include systematic beatings, rape, forced nudity, electric shocks, and the use of dogs against detainees. According to the report, these policies are not rogue actions but are condoned by high-ranking officials, with the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, directly implicated in promoting the degradation of prisoners.

For Albanese, the unfolding events in Gaza and the West Bank constitute irreversible damage. The combination of forced displacements, the blockade of humanitarian aid, and the targeting of medical personnel aims to inflict long-term physical and mental suffering on the Palestinian people.

“I conclude that genocide is the ultimate form of torture, collective and generational”, Albanese affirmed, emphasizing that the testimonies collected serve as irrefutable proof of crimes against humanity. This powerful conclusion underscores the severity and systematic nature of the actions being carried out by Zionism forces, casting a long shadow over the future of the Palestinian territories.

The report calls for immediate international action to halt these atrocities and hold those responsible accountable, highlighting the urgent need for global intervention to protect human rights and uphold international law in the face of such profound violations.

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