麻豆APP

Briefing?

?“Safeguarding Human Rights, Ensuring Accountability and Ending the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine”?

Convened by the?Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People?

?30 October 2025?

CHAIR SUMMARY?

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On 30 October 2025, the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People organized a virtual briefing titled “Safeguarding Human Rights, Ensuring Accountability and Ending the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine”. The event featured presentations by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory Occupied Since 1967, Francesca Albanese; UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, Reem Alsalem; UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Saul; as well as Member of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, Chris Sidoti.?

The Chair of the Committee and Permanent Representative of Senegal to the 麻豆APP in New York, Ambassador Coly Seck, opened the briefing by welcoming participants and global viewers, framing the event as part of the Committee’s ongoing mandate to uphold the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. He described the past two years in Gaza as a period of immense human suffering: “relentless bombing, widespread destruction, and man-made hunger,” calling it one of the most devastating conflicts of our time and warning that the crisis had pushed the international multilateral system “to the brink of collapse.” He acknowledged the recent developments following the Gaza Peace Summit, including the ceasefire, release of Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and the phased Israeli military withdrawal, noting these steps created a “fragile glimmer of hope” that must be protected.?

Ambassador Seck reaffirmed the Committee’s UN-mandated mission ahead of its
50th anniversary – to advocate for Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on pre-1967 lines. He emphasized that the two-State solution, rooted in relevant Security Council resolutions and the principle of peaceful coexistence, remains “the only viable path” to a just and lasting peace. He commended the Special Rapporteurs and the Independent Commission of Inquiry for their “extraordinary work” documenting violations across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, rigorously examining evidence and separating fact from allegation. Their findings, he stressed, counter claims of bias and instead reflect a “broader, balanced view” that recognizes abuses and crimes committed by all parties. He condemned political attacks on these UN experts, affirming that such efforts undermine truth-seeking and accountability. The Committee’s stance, he concluded, is unequivocal: accountability must be universal, all victims must be recognized,
and violations of international law must be condemned “no matter who commits them”.?

In his remarks, the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the 麻豆APP in New York, Minister Riyad Mansour, framed the past two years as a period of immense Palestinian suffering, describing the situation as a “genocidal war” marked by destruction, mass civilian casualties, and the continued detention of nearly 10,000 Palestinians. He stressed that all Palestinian prisoners, including long-serving leaders, “deserve to join their families” and resume roles in Palestinian society. Minister Mansour welcomed the recent fragile ceasefire and emphasized collective responsibility to make it permanent, deliver humanitarian aid “at the scale they need,” and reconstruct Gaza, calling it a duty “to make it the beautiful part of the State of Palestine… as it was, and even to make it better.” He highlighted the ICJ Advisory Opinion affirming that the occupation must end “as rapidly as possible” and recalled decades of Palestinian diplomatic work to secure such determinations. He urged mobilization across governments, civil society, and global solidarity movements, affirming the struggle is for the “millions of the Palestinian people,” not individuals. He concluded with a powerful emotional appeal, vowing that Palestinians “will never forget, and will never forgive” the atrocities committed, expressing confidence that “soon the Palestinian people will prevail” and end their “nightmare” through justice and freedom.?

Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, that it was “alarming and shameful” that Palestinians, including women and girls, continued to be killed despite a ceasefire. She described documenting the past two years as “a challenge beyond description,” and concluded that existing legal language does not adequately capture the “monstrosity and scale” of violence against Palestinian women and girls. She argued their deliberate targeting served the intent to destroy Palestinians “in whole or in part,” and therefore required terminology beyond “femicide.” She adopted “feminicide” to reflect mass killing rooted in racial, colonial, and patriarchal structures and linked to genocidal objectives.?

Ms. Alsalem underscored widespread sexual violence, torture, forced disappearance, reproductive violence, and the systematic destruction of maternity and reproductive health services. She cited South Africa’s ICJ filing and COI findings that reproductive violence was used “as a genocidal tool,” noting that targeting reproductive capacity meets legal thresholds under the Genocide Convention. She warned that silence and hesitation from states, including those with feminist foreign policies, expose “double standards” and a global regression in protecting women’s rights. She stressed that accountability mechanisms must address the specific experience of Palestinian women, noting ICJ and General Assembly decisions have been “sex and gender blind.” She closed by emphasizing consequences beyond Palestine, warning that “what happens in Palestine does not stay in Palestine,” and that normalization of brutality is already visible in other crises, such as Sudan.?

Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the OPT, by noting her absence in person due to a US-imposed travel ban following her UN reports, calling it an “ad hominem measure” and evidence of an “unacceptable” trend of intimidation against mandate holders. She stressed that she was being sanctioned for doing her job – documenting Israeli violations and reporting to the UN “the gravity, the depth of crimes.”
She expressed disappointment that the UN system had not yet acted in unison to protect its independent experts, arguing this signaled broader institutional weakness. She also referenced a in the General Assembly’s Third Committee in which she was accused of “witchcraft” by the Israeli representative, calling it a telling example of gendered attacks against women who “speak truth to power” and denouncing it as emblematic of efforts to silence UN mandate-holders.?

Ms. Albanese characterized Israel as an apartheid and settler-colonial regime that has “turned genocidal,” asserting that international complicity has allowed violations to intensify. She condemned military, economic, and diplomatic support to Israel as potentially amounting to complicity, noting that such links “lead to responsibility” under international law. She criticized humanitarian operations that placed aid routes under control of the “genocidal state” and its allies, calling this a “partner in crime” arrangement inconsistent with ICJ orders. She warned the UN is losing moral authority and the confidence of future generations: “The 麻豆APP…
is not able to preserve peace.” Ms. Albanese urged renewed commitment to decolonization and self-determination, stating that Palestine stands as a litmus test for the international system’s credibility and capacity to uphold global norms. “We still have a little time to recover,” she said, “but we need to do the right thing.”?

In his briefing, Professor Ben Saul, UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights, on the peace plan, welcoming elements such as a ceasefire, prisoner releases, humanitarian access, and commitments against displacement and annexation. However, he cautioned that these are already obligations under international law and “should not depend on negotiations.” Mr. Saul argued that key elements of the plan “are deeply inconsistent” with fundamental international legal norms and the ICJ advisory opinions. He warned the plan risks imposing peace “at any price,” which he called a “recipe for further injustice” and instability.?

He stressed that Palestinian self-determination cannot be conditional, yet the plan places political transition under external oversight, lacks representation of Palestinians, and excludes the Palestinian Authority. He criticized oversight by a US-chaired board outside UN structures, calling it reminiscent of colonial models. Mr. Saul warned that a “US-led occupation” could replace Israeli occupation, given proposals for an international force without clear withdrawal timelines or guarantees. He argued that Gaza’s demilitarization without parallel constraints on Israel would leave Palestinians vulnerable to future aggression, and that the plan treats Gaza in isolation from the West Bank. He criticized lack of provisions for reparations, ending settlement activities, refugee rights, or accountability for serious crimes. “True peace requires justice,” he said, calling the absence of accountability mechanisms a fundamental flaw. He condemned the sanctions imposed on Ms. Albanese and the “sexist and hateful” remarks by the Israeli ambassador, and urged adherence to international law: “The future of Palestine must be in the hands of Palestinians.”?

Next, Chris Sidoti, Member of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, , reflected on four years of work by the Commission, highlighting investigations since 7 October 2023. He recalled that the COI found Palestinian militants had committed war crimes in southern Israel on 7 and 8 October, and that Israeli forces committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza in subsequent months. He stressed that the Commission had examined multiple sectors, including hospitals, education, cultural heritage, and civilian housing, documenting systematic attacks across society. He emphasized the destruction of healthcare and education systems, attacks on cultural sites including churches and mosques, and widespread civilian harm.?

Mr. Sidoti explained that genocide findings required completion of sector-specific investigations and rigorous legal analysis. The Commission determined that Israeli acts met the legal threshold for genocide in four of the five categories defined by the Genocide Convention and found genocidal intent “directly and indirectly.” He noted that an extensive 70-page genocide analysis preceded the General Assembly report due to word limits. Mr. Sidoti underscored the Commission’s “standard legal approach based on facts and law,” rejecting claims of bias. He stressed that “there can be no peace without accountability” and no justice without prosecution of crimes. He urged genuine political processes grounded in participation of both Palestinians and Israelis, warning peace cannot be “imposed from outside.” Mr. Sidoti concluded by expressing hope for recovery following the pause in fighting, while insisting that accountability is essential to any durable peace.?

In the ensuing discussion, the Permanent Representative of Malaysia asked for a practical pathway to end the occupation and deliver accountability given UN constraints. Ms. Albanese pointed to the Hague Group and urged States to build wider alliances inside the UN to resist “bullying,” act on concrete legal obligations, and treat Palestine as a test of a truly decolonized international order. Ms. Alsalem pressed the UN to “call a spade a spade,” criticizing the Secretary-General’s conflict-related sexual violence report for not listing Israel despite multiple independent findings, and flagged the gender blindness of the ceasefire terms.?

Ambassador Seck then invited reflections on trust, evidence collection, and next steps. Mr. Saul laid out actions to be undertaken by States: end military cooperation and arms transfers, impose targeted diplomatic and economic sanctions, back ICC and ICJ proceedings while joining those institutions themselves, use universal jurisdiction, and consider a General Assembly mechanism to assess and collect compensation, including seizing assets where lawful. Ms. Albanese fully concurred, stressing the ICJ’s guidance in 2024, the need to halt weapons and dual-use items, and an unconditional dismantling of the occupation. She warned reconstruction could become a vehicle for forced displacement and called for cutting military, diplomatic, and economic ties until compliance, adding that Israel should not set Gaza’s future. Ms. Alsalem added corporate and media accountability, citing “deliberate and malicious” disinformation after 7 October that helped normalize abuses. In closing, Minister Mansour endorsed many proposals but argued for an incremental, coalition-building strategy drawn from the anti-apartheid struggle: value every step that reduces harm, keep expanding the coalition, and prioritize saving lives now, especially “the one million Palestinian children in Gaza.” There is “no silver bullet,” he said; trust Palestinians to exercise self-determination while the international community sustains cumulative pressure grounded in international law.?

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?***Note: This Summary attempts to provide an overall picture of the deliberations of the event.?