The United Nations’s particular rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territory has mentioned that it’s time for nations all over the world to take concrete actions to cease Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza.
Francesca Albanese spoke to delegates from 30 international locations assembly in Colombia’s capital, Bogota, on Tuesday to debate Israel’s brutal assault and methods nations can attempt to cease the offensive within the besieged enclave.
Lots of the collaborating nations have described Israel’s conflict on Gaza as a genocide in opposition to the Palestinians.
Greater than 58,000 individuals have been killed since Israel launched the assault in October 2023, in accordance with Palestinian well being authorities. Israeli forces have additionally imposed a number of complete blockades on the territory all through the conflict, pushing Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to the brink of hunger.
“Every state should instantly overview and droop all ties with the State of Israel … and guarantee its personal sector does the identical,” Albanese mentioned. “The Israeli economic system is structured to maintain the occupation that has now turned genocidal.”
A Palestinian boy queues for a portion of scorching meals distributed by a charity kitchen on the Nuseirat refugee camp within the central Gaza Strip on July 15, 2025 [Eyad Baba/AFP]
Colombia, South Africa lead talks on Israel’s brutal offensive
The 2-day convention organised by Colombia and South Africa is being attended largely by growing nations, though Spain, Eire and China have additionally despatched delegates.
The convention is co-chaired by South Africa and Colombia, which final yr suspended coal exports to Israeli energy crops. It consists of the participation of members of The Hague Group, a coalition of eight international locations that earlier this yr pledged to chop navy ties with Israel and adjust to an Worldwide Prison Courtroom arrest warrant in opposition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
For many years, South Africa’s governing African Nationwide Congress celebration has in contrast Israel’s insurance policies in Gaza and the West Financial institution with its personal historical past of oppression underneath the cruel apartheid regime of white minority rule, which restricted most Black individuals to areas referred to as “homelands”, earlier than ending in 1994.
The gathering comes because the European Union weighs varied measures in opposition to Israel, which embrace a ban on imports from unlawful Israeli settlements, an arms embargo and particular person sanctions in opposition to Israeli officers who’re discovered to be blocking a peaceable resolution to the battle.
Colombian Vice Minister for Overseas Affairs Mauricio Jaramillo mentioned on Monday that the nations collaborating within the Bogota assembly, which additionally embrace Qatar and Turkiye, shall be discussing diplomatic and judicial measures to place extra stress on Israel to stop its assaults.
The Colombian official described Israel’s conduct within the Gaza Strip and the West Financial institution as an affront to the worldwide order.
“This isn’t nearly Palestine,” Jaramillo mentioned in a information convention. “It’s about defending worldwide legislation and the proper to self-determination.”
Particular rapporteur Albanese’s feedback echoed remarks she made earlier on Tuesday addressed to the EU. The bloc’s overseas ministers had been assembly in Brussels to debate potential motion in opposition to Israel.
In a collection of posts on X, Albanese wrote that the EU is “legally certain” to droop its affiliation settlement with Israel, citing its obligations underneath worldwide legislation.
Albanese mentioned the EU isn’t solely Israel’s prime buying and selling accomplice but in addition its prime funding accomplice, practically double the scale of the US, and “commerce with an economic system inextricably tied to occupation, apartheid and genocide is complicity”.
