"Gaza Genocide: a collective crime": the new report by the Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese exposes Third States’ complicity enabling longstanding systemic violations of international law by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, has released a new report asserting that many States, primarily Western ones, have facilitated, legitimized and eventually normalized the genocidal campaign perpetrated by Israel.

The report “Gaza Genocide: a collective crime” further demonstrates that, in light of this complicity, the ongoing genocide of the Palestinians must be understood as an internationally enabled crime.

Focusing on the aid and assistance that Third States have provided to the illegal Israeli occupation and its genocide of the Palestinian people, the document highlights four interconnected aspects of international law violations: diplomatic, military, “humanitarian” and economic.

Over the past two years, States have enabled the genocide in Gaza by normalizing Israel’s occupation and failing to hold it accountable. Diplomatic recognition, participation in negotiations, and public statements justifying violence have have perpetuated structures enabling mass atrocities.

Despite UN resolutions calling for arms embargoes since 1976, many States continue supplying Israel with military support. The United States, Germany, and Italy are among the largest suppliers, providing Israel with the means to maintain overwhelming force, attack civilians, and restrict humanitarian aid, making these ties central to the systematic targeting of Palestinians.

The report also criticizes the manipulation of humanitarian and economic aid, which reinforces conditions of deprivation by limiting access to essential resources such as food, water, medical care, and shelter, effectively weaponizing aid to sustain structural conditions for genocide.

Additionally, economic and trade ties have strengthened Israel’s economy, funding settlements, military operations, and oppressive policies. By profiting from these structures, third States have indirectly facilitated ongoing systemic violence and destruction of Palestinian communities.

The Special Rapporteur concludes that the genocide in Gaza is not an isolated event but part of a long-standing system of global complicity. The international community has enabled it through military, diplomatic, economic, and ideological support, even as Israel weaponizes aid and commits mass atrocities.

The report includes recommendations where it urges all States to uphold their legal obligations by preventing complicity in Israel’s violations and addressing serious breaches of international law, including the UN Charter and the Genocide Convention. In response to the ongoing emergency, States should press for a full ceasefire, Israeli troop withdrawal, and the immediate lifting of Gaza’s blockade to allow safe humanitarian access. Beyond the immediate crisis, States must recognize Palestinian self-determination, suspend military, trade, and diplomatic ties with Israel, investigate and prosecute those facilitating genocide and other crimes, and ensure reparations and reconstruction. Full cooperation with international courts, strengthened UN support, and measures under the “Uniting for Peace” initiative are essential to dismantle the occupation. Civil society, unions, and citizens are called upon to monitor State actions and apply pressure through boycotts, divestments, and sanctions until the illegal occupation and related crimes end.

Accountability must go beyond courts to include reparations and the dismantling of the power structures that allow such crimes by immediately suspend support to Israel, uphold international law, and end complicity in the ongoing genocide.