Albanese slams UK FM Lammy’s comments on Gaza as genocide denial

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, sharply criticized the British government for its response to the ongoing violence in Gaza, accusing UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy of denying the reality of genocide.

Albanese called out Lammy in an interview with the Middle East Eye (MEE), made in October, where he dismissed claims that "Israel’s" actions in Gaza constitute genocide.

Lammy’s controversial statement in Parliament suggested that genocide should be reserved for situations where millions of lives are lost, drawing comparisons to historical events like the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide. He argued that applying the term to the ongoing aggression in Gaza undermines its gravity.

Albanese, a seasoned expert in international law, expressed her disbelief at Lammy’s comments, especially given his legal background.

“As a lawyer, Mr. Lammy should know that the scale of killing isn’t the only factor in determining genocide,” she said. "It’s not about the numbers; it’s about the intent and the method. And any lawyer would recognize that."

She further pointed out that genocide could occur even without mass extermination, citing historical cases such as the forced cultural eradication of Indigenous populations in Canada, Australia, and the US.

She argued that Lammy’s remarks ignored the broader context of genocidal actions, including acts of displacement, destruction of communities, and the systematic targeting of civilians, particularly children.

“When we talk about genocide, it’s not just about mass murder,” Albanese explained. “It’s also about cultural obliteration and the systemic destruction of a people’s way of life.”

Albanese's own reports, presented to the UN Human Rights Council, painted a dire picture of the situation in Gaza.

Her March report, titled Anatomy of a Genocide, outlined evidence that senior "Israeli" officials had explicitly endorsed actions that she classified as genocidal. A subsequent report in October added that "Israel’s" policies should be understood as part of a longer history of settler colonialism in the region, and called for international accountability.

The UN expert also emphasized the UK’s failure to act in the face of these allegations. "What has the UK done to prevent genocide in Gaza?" Albanese asked, criticizing the British government for its inaction.

She highlighted the extensive destruction in Gaza, including the loss of homes, hospitals, and schools, and questioned how such devastation could go unchallenged by the UK.

"Seventeen thousand children have died under our watch. What has the UK done to stop it? Absolutely nothing."