“It seems to me that in the present, India and Israel are contributing to the decay of the international system that our forefathers or foremothers painfully built,” Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, said. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
On March 23, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese presented her report “Torture and Genocide” to the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council. Its findings indicate that since October 2023, Israel has used systematic torture against Palestinians in detention centres and across Gaza, which the report calls a “vast torture camp”. It also documents over 18,500 arrests, including 1,500 children, and more than 4,000 enforced disappearances.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Israel in February, he spoke to the Knesset, hailing India’s cultural, political and military relationship with Israel. The visit also brought upgraded ties sealed with a “Special Strategic Partnership”. Responding to how she views India’s legal and moral responsibility by associating with Israel and its war, Ms. Albanese said that while India is “violating its obligations” under International law, it might also be “facing responsibility”.
Published – April 20, 2026 11:58 pm IST