ROME/BRUSSELS

The UN’s special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories reiterated her criticism of the European Union and its member states over policies she said are aiding the destruction of Palestine.

In remarks to reporters Tuesday at the European Parliament in Brussels, Francesca Albanese said the EU and its members failed to fulfill their international obligations on Gaza and Palestine.

"It is a very grave situation that, particularly due to the objections of Germany and Italy, the suspension of the trade agreement (with Israel) has still not gone forward,' she said.

Citing continued relations between the EU and Israel, including sending weapons as well as Israel’s association with the bloc’s Horizon Europe research program, Albanese said the issue is not that the EU is not doing enough, rather it is that the EU, through its member states and policies, is aiding the destruction of Palestine.

"In my view, the situation is so dire that it is beyond comment," she said.

Asked about her comments regarding a two-state solution, she said there is no point in any political debate about two states unless the dire situation of the Palestinian people is addressed.

"There is an ethnic cleansing in the West Bank that is almost unprecedented in the last 80 years, and with extraordinary violence," she said.

Albanese said that most of the violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank are citizens of European countries, while many European citizens have served in the Israeli army.

"How can we talk about two states when the population is disappearing, when much of the land on which the independent State of Palestine was to be established has been destroyed or is under occupation?" she said.

"We are facing a new genocide, and we are at risk of being complicit in it," said Albanese, adding this complicity leads not only to the destruction of Palestine but also to the collapse of the EU's fundamental values.

Albanese also said that US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza does not comply with international law, citing last year's ruling by the International Court of Justice that Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is unlawful.

She also said that compensation must be paid for the violence against Palestinians and the return of displaced people must be guaranteed.

In response to a question regarding the disarming of the Palestinian group Hamas and removing it from power in Gaza, Albanese said the right to self-determination means that Palestinians choose whomever they want.

"Just as Israelis can elect a criminal, Palestinians can also vote for someone the international community does not like, or not. But that is not our concern. What concerns us is that Palestinians live freely and in peace — just like Israelis," she added.

Albanese also reiterated the need to immediately suspend the military cooperation agreement between the EU and Israel.