UN Watch Press Release
For Immediate Release
Geneva, February 11, 2026 – UN Watch, the Geneva-based non-governmental organization that monitors the United Nations, today welcomed France’s announcement that it will call for the immediate resignation of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, during the high-level opening of the UN Human Rights Council session on February 23.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, responding to a question from Member of the National Assembly Caroline Yadan during a session in the French parliament, condemned Albanese’s recent remarks made at a conference in Doha on February 7, where she characterized Israel as the “enemy of humanity” in the presence of a Hamas representative and the Iranian Foreign Minister. Barrot described her statements as “outrageous and reprehensible,” adding that they targeted “Israel as a people and as a nation, which is absolutely unacceptable.”
Barrot cited Albanese’s history of inflammatory rhetoric, including her justifying the October 7 Hamas massacre—the worst antisemitic attack since the Holocaust—invoking tropes about “the Jewish lobby,” and comparing Israel to the Third Reich.
“She presents herself as a UN independent expert, yet she is neither an expert nor independent—she is a political activist who stirs up hate,” Barrot stated. He affirmed that France will demand her resignation “with firmness” at the upcoming UNHRC session.
UN Watch commended French MP Caroline Yadan for spearheading a letter signed by 50 lawmakers demanding action against Albanese, who has repeatedly portrayed Israel as the “incarnation of evil” and an “enemy of humanity.” The initiative underscores growing international concern over Albanese’s inflammatory conduct, which undermines the credibility of the United Nations and betrays the principles of impartiality required of UN mandate holders.
Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, praised France’s stance: “France’s bold call for Francesca Albanese’s resignation is a crucial step toward restoring integrity to the UN human rights system. For too long, Albanese has abused her position to spew Goebbels-like demonology against Israel, inciting hatred and legitimizing terrorism under the guise of human rights advocacy. She has disgraced the world body and betrayed the very people she claims to defend.”
Neuer added: “We urge all foreign ministers attending the UN Human Rights Council on February 23 to join France in demanding the removal of this so-called ‘expert.’ The UN cannot afford to harbor activists who stir up hate and undermine peace. Albanese’s rhetoric not only fuels antisemitism but also erodes trust in international institutions at a time when genuine human rights work is desperately needed.”
UN Watch has long documented Albanese’s pattern of extreme bias, including her spreading of blatant Hamas lies, her endorsement of conspiracy theories and her failure to condemn Hamas atrocities unequivocally. The organization calls on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and member states to ensure that special rapporteurs adhere to standards of independence, impartiality, and professionalism.
About UN Watch
United Nations Watch is a non-governmental organization based in Geneva whose mission is to monitor the performance of the United Nations by the yardstick of its own Charter. UN Watch holds the UN accountable to its founding principles by exposing hypocrisy, bias, and abuses. For more information, visit www.unwatch.org.
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From National Assembly of France, Feb. 11, 2026
CAROLINE YADAN, FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY:
Thank you, Madam President. My question is addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On February 7th, in Doha, Qatar, at a forum organized by Al Jazeera, attended by Khaled Meshaal, leader of Hamas, and Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, among others, Ms. Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, designated Israel as a common enemy of humanity.
This accusation is one of the oldest and deadliest sources of antisemitism. It is not a matter of free criticism but rather part of a conspiratorial and dehumanizing worldview that portrays Israel as the embodiment of absolute evil, just as the Jews were once considered subhuman by the Nazis.
Unfortunately, this is not Ms. Albanese’s first offense.
In November 2022, she participated in a conference in Gaza alongside several Hamas officials.
After the massacres of October 7, 2023, she questioned the reality of the sexual mutilations and rapes committed.
On September 28, 2025, she publicly humiliated an Italian mayor by ordering him never again to mention the release of the hostages.
A United Nations mandate is neither a platform for activism nor an ideological carte blanche. The code of
conduct for special rapporteurs requires impartiality and restraint. Yet, these principles are clearly being violated.
This situation engages the responsibility of the international community and that of France.
Our country cannot remain silent in the face of this hateful rhetoric, especially as antisemitism is exploding and the very credibility of the United Nations, which is supposed to promote peace, is at stake.
Minister, can you confirm that France will make its voice heard so that Ms. Albanese is removed from all UN mandates with immediate effect? Thank you.
REPLY BY FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER JEAN-NOËL BARROT:
Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Madam Representative,
France unreservedly condemns the outrageous and reprehensible remarks made by Ms. Francesca Albanese, which are directed not at the Israeli government, which, Madam Representative, it is permissible to criticize, and whose policies it is permissible to criticize, but at Israel as a people and as a nation, which is absolutely unacceptable.
These remarks were made, as you pointed out, in the presence of a representative of Hamas and a representative of the Iranian government, while the repression continues.
These remarks add to a long list of scandalous statements, justifying October 7, the worst antisemitic massacre in our history since the Holocaust, evoking “the Jewish lobby,” and comparing Israel to the Third Reich.
Ms. Francesca Albanese presents herself as an “independent expert” for the United Nations. She is neither an expert nor independent; she is a political activist who stirs up hate speech that undermines the cause of the Palestinian people she claims to defend.
And Ms. Albanese cannot, under any circumstances or in any way, speak on behalf of the United Nations. She betrays its spirit.
In reality, these provocations call for only one response: her resignation. And it is in these terms and with this firmness, Madam Representative, that France will speak on February 23 during the session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
