In a dramatic confrontation at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, launched a scathing attack on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, labeling her a ‘witch’ following her presentation of a report on third-state complicity in the Gaza genocide. Danon accused Albanese of attempting to ‘curse Israel with lies and hatred,’ dismissing her findings as ’empty spells’ and ‘failed charms.’ Albanese, unfazed by the outburst, countered that Israel’s response was ‘grotesque and delusional,’ emphasizing that her report, titled ‘Gaza Genocide: A Collective Crime,’ scrutinizes the role of over 60 countries in enabling Israel’s actions in Gaza. Speaking from Cape Town, South Africa, due to US sanctions imposed earlier this year, Albanese condemned the international community’s complicity in the crisis, calling for a permanent ceasefire and the suspension of military and diplomatic ties with Israel. She underscored that international law prohibits states from aiding or assisting in the commission of international crimes, framing the issue as a matter of legal obligation rather than choice.
‘Grotesque and delusional’: Francesca Albanese hits back at Israeli envoy after he called her a ‘witch’
