“This is a moral abyss”: Francesca Albanese on Palestine, power, and international silence

During a joint ceremony in Antwerp, Francesca Albanese received an honorary doctorate from three Belgian universities, after which she reflected on her work, the pressure she experiences as a UN rapporteur, and the broader crisis of international law and human rights in a moving conversation and acceptance speech.

Following the joint awarding of an honorary doctorate by the Universities of Antwerp, Ghent, and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Francesca Albanese addressed the audience in an emotional and outspoken dialogue on Palestine, international law, and the pressure surrounding her mandate as UN Special Rapporteur.

Albanese described the recognition as overwhelming and said that the warmth and support she received in Antwerp deeply touched her. She directly linked that reaction to the significance of Palestine for many and called it “a wound for so many of us.” At the same time, she reflected critically on the moment and pointed out the contradiction that she is being honored for her commitment to human rights, while that recognition apparently still requires public accountability.

According to Albanese, this exposes a broader tension of the present moment. She stated that standing up for Palestinian rights and justice should not be viewed as a threat to any community. On the contrary, it must be understood as part of a universal commitment to human rights, justice, and accountability. She also reiterated her position that the current reality must be clearly named, describing Israel as an apartheid state and calling the current period a “transformative moment,” rather than something that can be addressed with limited reforms.

From a European perspective, Albanese indicated that she felt strengthened by what she called a growing “ wind of change .” Referring to Belgium’s colonial past, she stated that Europe today has the opportunity to turn a new page and choose a different path, based on international law rather than selective interpretations or political expediency.

During the conversation, Albanese was also asked about the personal impact of her work. Since becoming Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories in May 2022, she has faced threats, attempts to silence her, and sanctions from the United States. She said that she always knew working on Palestine would have consequences, given the close entanglement with political power and ideological interests. Nevertheless, she admitted that she had not expected the situation to become so serious.

She described the sanctions against her as unprecedented, especially given that her role at the United Nations is unpaid and aimed at monitoring human rights violations. According to Albanese, the measures have had far-reaching consequences, not only for her own life but also for those around her. Nevertheless, she emphasized that these actions were intended to silence her — and that, so far, they have not succeeded.

A central theme in the conversation was her early use of the term genocide in relation to Gaza after October 7, 2023. She explained that she did not arrive at that conclusion lightly. On the contrary, she initially hesitated to use the term, partly due to her own European intellectual and cultural background. But as she analyzed the events more thoroughly and tested them against the legal definition of genocide, she became convinced that the term was justified.

She stated that what has taken place in Gaza cannot simply be described as military operations. According to her, Israel has violated the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian law from the very beginning , including the protection of civilians, the precautionary principle, and the requirement of military necessity. By her own account, she saw within the very first week not only signs of mass destruction, but also of a broader project aimed at the permanent expulsion of Palestinians and the prevention of their return.

Albanese placed these developments in a broader historical context and referred to the expulsion of Palestinians in 1947–49 and again in 1967. In her analysis, what has been happening in Gaza since October 2023 is part of an ongoing settler-colonial process, rather than an isolated event. According to her, that historical continuity made the warning signs unmistakable.

She also addressed the relationship between genocide and torture , a theme she has covered in recent reports. According to her, torture is not an isolated phenomenon, but an essential part of the broader destruction. She referred not only to the devastation in Gaza, but also to the treatment of Palestinians in detention: arrests, disappearances, ill-treatment, humiliation, and reports of deaths in captivity. According to Albanese, this is part of what she described as a broader “torturous environment” imposed on an entire population.

The conversation also touched upon what Albanese views as the deep complicity of states and institutions that continue to support Israel politically, economically, and militarily . She criticized the gap between the language of human rights and the reality of ongoing cooperation, including trade relations and institutional partnerships. According to her, that discrepancy is one of the reasons why accountability is lacking.

Nevertheless, despite the somber analysis, Albanese concluded with a message of collective determination. She rejected the idea that the current situation can be reduced to a contradiction between “the West and the rest,” and pointed to students, activists, and citizens worldwide who have mobilized in solidarity with Palestinians. She explicitly called students a source of hope and praised them for often recognizing the gravity of the situation sooner than many institutions, in her view.

What keeps her going, Albanese said, is not only optimism but also anger — not as violence, but as moral indignation. That indignation gives strength to her work and to her refusal to soften her words. She indicated that she has learned from Palestinians to speak clearly and without excuses, and that this clarity is central to her voice.

Yet her conclusion was not one of despair. Albanese believes that this moment has the potential to change the world for the better, provided that people act with courage, solidarity, and coordination . If the world fails to draw fundamental lessons from this crisis, she warned, the consequences will extend far beyond Palestine.

For Albanese, therefore, the struggle is not only about Palestine, but also about the future of international law, the meaning of human rights, and the willingness of societies to confront dehumanization before it becomes irreversible.

Francesca Albanese

Acknowledgments: a call for justice and responsibility

In her acceptance speech, Francesca Albanese expressed her deep appreciation, while immediately placing the recognition within a broader global context of crisis and responsibility.

She described the moment as “beautifully overwhelming” and indicated that she felt both humble and somewhat uncomfortable standing before the audience. According to her, the recognition comes at a time of “deep pain and danger,” in which the international legal and moral framework—built over decades to limit power and enforce accountability—is increasingly under pressure.

According to Albanese, this framework, however imperfect, has historically played an important role in preventing large-scale conflicts and protecting many from the ravages of war. Today, however, she sees that protection crumbling: rules are ignored or openly violated, and impunity is becoming increasingly visible .

Against this backdrop, she emphasized that the honorary doctorate has a significance that goes beyond personal recognition. For her, it is

In her reflection, Albanese raised fundamental questions about the current world order: how we can escape what she calls a “ moral abyss ,” how we ensure that the law actually limits power rather than serves it, and how we can stop the normalization of injustice.

"how to confront a “moral abyss,” how to ensure that law restrains power rather than serves it, and how to resist the normalization of injustice." (Francesca Albanese)

In doing so, she pointed to Palestine as a crucial test case that forces the international community to determine whether human rights and international law apply universally or are applied selectively.

A significant part of her speech focused on the role of universities . While she acknowledged that academic institutions sometimes limit debate or avoid sensitive topics, she emphasized their enduring importance as places where societal awareness is formed and change can emerge.

She placed particular emphasis on the role of students, who, in her view, often take the lead in addressing injustice, including regarding Palestine, despite repression and institutional reluctance. According to her, their engagement demonstrates what universities should be: not museums of the past, but engines of critical thinking and societal change.

To the universities that honored her, Albanese addressed a clear call: let this recognition not be a symbolic gesture without consequences. She encouraged academic institutions to actively take a stand in the defense of international law and human rights, and to create spaces where courage is protected and knowledge contributes to liberation rather than domination.

She also placed this responsibility in a broader European context, referring to the continent's colonial past and its lasting impact. According to her, the present moment offers an opportunity not only to look back, but also to consciously chart a different path.

In her closing remarks, Albanian universities called upon to contribute to a more just and decolonized world order based on dignity, equality, and responsibility. She expressed the hope that her inclusion in their academic community is not merely a symbolic gesture, but the beginning of a joint commitment to shaping that future.

“Not tomorrow,” she decided, “but now.”

"Universities that dare not only to imagine a different world, but build it. And as you welcome me into your community, I hope you do not forget already I am here to build that with you.

Not tomorrow, but now ." (Albanian)