By Micah Jonah
February 16, 2026
Current and former UN staffers have spoken out in defence of Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, after she faced attacks from a pro-Israeli NGO and several European government officials.
Albanese, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but not a UN staff member was misrepresented by UN Watch, a pro-Israel NGO, which falsely claimed she called Israel “the common enemy of humanity.” Her actual words emphasized that humanity faces a common enemy in the lack of respect for fundamental freedoms, which she described as “the last peaceful toolbox” to regain freedom.
European officials, including those from Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, and Italy, criticized Albanese, with French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot calling for her resignation. On February 9, French MPs sent Barrot a letter denouncing Albanese, calling her remarks “anti-Semitic.”
In response, hundreds of UN staffers, organized under the group United Staff for Gaza, defended Albanese, condemned disinformation campaigns targeting her. The group, which has nearly 2,500 members, was created to defend Palestinians’ rights and speak out against human rights abuses in Gaza.
Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer, has been a prominent global figure advocating for Palestinian rights since her appointment in May 2022. She has also been supported by UNRWA, which criticized coordinated campaigns aimed at silencing her voice, undermining independent human rights reporting mechanisms.
Chris Gunness, former UNRWA communications director, blamed pro-Israel politicians in donor countries for allowing disinformation, anti-Palestinian rhetoric to influence national parliaments and discourse on Palestine.
Amnesty International also condemned European ministers, describing their attacks as “reprehensible” and demanding apologies for spreading disinformation about Albanese.
Despite criticism, French Foreign Minister Barrot has not retracted his call for her resignation. Former advisers and UN staffers criticized France’s stance, calling it damaging to the country’s credibility in defending international law and human rights.
