UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese has vowed not to be silenced after being hit with sanctions by the US last week. Speaking at a 30-nation conference in Bogotá, Colombia, aimed at ending Israel’s occupation of Palestine, she hailed the gathering as “the most significant political development in the past 20 months”.
The two-day conference brings together countries including China, Spain, and Qatar to implement a UN general assembly motion that calls on member states to take measures in support of Israel ending its unlawful occupation of Palestine. The motion sets a deadline of September 2025 to implement an international court of justice advisory opinion that deemed Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories as unlawful.
Albanese criticized the US sanctions, saying they would not cow her and that the world will remember what states did in this moment – whether they recoiled in fear or rose in defense of human dignity. She emphasized the importance of upholding international law and respecting universal human rights instruments.
The conference aims to agree on a detailed plan of political, economic, and legal actions to end Israel’s occupation. However, there are differing views on how far states can go politically or legally to isolate Israel, a country that feels secure with US support. The Hague Group, an initial group brought together by South Africa and Colombia, has grown in support and now includes countries like Algeria, Brazil, Spain, Indonesia, and Qatar.
The international court of justice advisory opinion stated that “Israel’s security concerns do not override the principle of the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force” and called on Israel to end its occupation as rapidly as possible. The US has yet to respond to this opinion, with the UK remaining unclear on what steps it will take.
Colombian president Gustavo Petro framed the stakes of the conference, stating that the world is moving from condemnation to collective action to bring an end to Israel’s military actions.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/15/united-nations-francesca-albanese-colombia-conference-israel-palestine