Bogota: The United Nations special rapporteur for besieged Gaza and the occupied West Bank said that it is time for nations around the world to take concrete actions to stop the "genocide" in the blockaded enclave. Francesca Albanese spoke to delegates from 30 countries meeting in Colombia's capital on Tuesday to discuss the Israeli genocide in Gaza and ways that nations can try to stop Israel's carnage.
According to TRTworld.com, Albanese urged nations to review and suspend all ties with Israel and ensure that their private sectors do the same. She stated that the Israeli economy is structured to sustain an occupation that has turned genocidal. This call to action reflects long-standing comparisons by South Africa's ruling African National Congress party, which equates Israel's policies in Gaza and the occupied West Bank with its own history of oppression under apartheid.
The European Union is currently considering measures against Israel, including a ban on imports from Israeli illegal settlements, an arms embargo, and individual sanctions against Israeli officials obstructing a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Colombia's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mauricio Jaramillo, indicated that the participating nations, including Qatar and Turkey, are discussing diplomatic and judicial measures to increase pressure on Israel to halt its attacks. Jaramillo highlighted that the issue transcends Palestine, emphasizing the defense of international law and the right to self-determination.
Israel has reportedly killed over 58,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, in its actions in Gaza. The Palestine official WAFA news agency reports that approximately 11,000 Palestinians are feared buried under rubble. Experts suggest that the actual death toll could be as high as 200,000. Throughout the conflict, Israel has devastated much of the enclave, displacing nearly its entire population. Additionally, Israel has blocked the entry of vital humanitarian aid, allowing only a controversial US-backed aid group that bypasses UN aid efforts and has been condemned as a "death trap."
