‘Speaking truth is her crime’: Netizens rip into European allies of Israel for targeting Albanese

Social media has been flooded with support for Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, after calls for her resignation were amplified by European governments including France and Germany.

Netizens have expressed their solidarity with the Italian-born legal expert, emphasizing her crucial work, with various advocacy groups and individual activists making it clear that they stand behind Albanese despite the political pressure. 

The widespread backing for Albanese underscores her unwavering commitment to uncovering human rights violations in the occupied territories, despite facing international attempts to silence her.

The controversy stems from a “smear campaign” orchestrated by pro-Israel entities, with the aim of undermining Albanese's human rights efforts.

In a post on X, economist and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis praised Albanese, noting that her detractors “seek to shield Israel from her well-documented, factual, legitimate criticism” over its treatment of Palestinians.

He emphasized that Albanese’s reporting exposes the economic and political motives behind the occupation, the torture of Palestinian captives, and ongoing violations of international law.

Irish politician Mick Wallace also noted that Albanese’s “greatest crime…is speaking the truth,” criticizing Western governments for supporting “genocide in Gaza.”

Similarly, human rights lawyer Craig Mokhiber took to X to condemn the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson for failing to defend Albanese against attacks, calling the UN’s inaction “a scandalous display” that accelerates an institutional decline.

Another social media user slammed the European backlash against Albanese, describing the smear campaign as “the most pathetic and deranged one yet.”

The user rejected claims that Albanese had called Israel the “enemy of humanity,” arguing that the allegations were false and politically motivated.

The user accused the French and German governments of rushing to accept the smear and defended Albanese’s work exposing human rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Political cartoonist Carlos Latuff confirmed his support for Albanese, saying he will never sign petitions calling for her removal.

Historian Zachary Foster noted that Albanese “will go down in history as a hero” while European leaders supporting her removal “will go down in history as villains.”

Another social media user praised Albanese, calling her “one of the bravest human beings on the planet” and urging everyone to stand up in support of her work.

Hanan Ashrawi described Albanese as “a truth-sayer, entirely undaunted, courageous, and with pristine integrity.”

UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Professor Balakrishnan Rajagopal, also called on European states to end “this shameful behavior.”

France and Germany have called for Albanese to step down over remarks last weekend during a forum in the Qatari capital Doha, in which she referred to a “common enemy of humanity” after criticizing “most of the world” and the media for enabling Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Albanese stands out as one of the most vocal critics of Israel's more-than-two-year bombardment of Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 72,000 people and the destruction of most of the territory's infrastructure.

She has described genocide “the shame of our time” and says she always asks prime ministers, presidents and foreign ministers the same question: “How do you sleep? When will you act?”

Albanese was targeted with sanctions by the administration of US President Donald Trump in July last year.

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