UN special rapporteur calls for arrest of Israeli ministers

GENEVA, March 21 (YPA) –  UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese accused Israeli occupation of carrying out systematic torture against Palestinians in detention centers since October 2023.

In its report titled “Torture and genocide,” Albanese called for arrest warrants against members of the Israeli government, including Israel Katz, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Bezalel Smotrich, citing documentation of more than 300 testimonies detailing severe physical and psychological abuse in detention centers.

The report revealed that over 18,000 Palestinians have been detained, including 1,500 children, with around 9,000 still in custody and thousands more subjected to enforced disappearances. It described torture as a “systematic and widespread” tool used against detainees.

The report is set to be presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council, amid international calls to halt violations and hold perpetrators accountable.

Albanese has faced accusations of antisemitism and calls for her dismissal from both Israel and the United States, in response to her repeated criticism of Israeli policies and allegations of crimes amounting to genocide.

@E.Y.M