Middle East

Paris renounces request for Albanese's resignation at the UN

For her part, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories has already made it known that she has no intention of leaving office

26 February 2026aggiornato il 26 febbraio 2026 ore 11:55

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Paris: Albanese should have the dignity to resign
Two weeks ago the official request
Israel Observatory: "Resignation necessary for UN credibility"

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Contrary to the announcements made in recent weeks in parliament in Paris by Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, France waived its demand for the resignation of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, at the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva yesterday. Opting in the end for a simple recall.

Politico writes thattheFrance's permanent representative at the UN in Geneva, Céline Jurgensen, would no longer explicitly ask for the Italian jurist's resignation, contenting herself with denouncing ''repeated and extremely problematic statements'' by Albanese. Hence the French representative's invitation to all UN special rapporteurs to demonstrate the ''sobriety, moderation and discretion required by their mandate''.

Paris: Albanese should have the dignity to resign

''She should have the dignity to resign'': the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry in Paris, Pascal Confavreux, interviewed by Politico on France's failure to ask Francesca Albanese to resign.

For Convafreux, Barrot is still of the opinion that Albanese's ''repeated provocations'' should cause her to leave her post at the UN. Speaking in parliament on 18 February, Barrot returned to condemn the UN special rapporteur's ''long list of provocations''. Not only the words about an alleged 'enemy of humanity' dryly denied by Albanese but also the 'justification of 7 October'.

''These repeated provocations,'' Barrot added, ''would require Mrs Albanese to have the dignity to resign. Institutionally speaking, however, France's room for manoeuvre remains limited. Indeed, UN member states have no mechanism to force a rapporteur or special rapporteur to resign before the end of their mandate.

Albanese's will come to fruition in 2028, unless a specific resolution is adopted by the Human Rights Council. An hypothesis considered unlikely.

For his part, Albanese has already let it be known that he has no intention of leaving office as France has advocated.

Two weeks ago the official request

France calls for the resignation of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese. "France unreservedly condemns the outrageous and irresponsible words of Ms Albanese" spoken last Saturday, "which target not the Israeli government, whose policy it is permissible to criticise, but Israel as a people is as a nation," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on 12 February speaking at the National Assembly in Paris, announcing that France will call for Ms Albanese's resignation on 23 February at the UN Human Rights Council.

Gaza, alla Corte suprema israeliana il ricorso sull'accesso dei media

In an open letter published yesterday, some 40 deputies from the Macronian camp had asked the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noel Barrot, to demand the resignation of Francesca Albanese, for her words concerning Israel uttered on 7 February during a forum organised by Al-Jazira in Doha. Among the signatories were MPs such as Constance Le Grip, Olivia Grégoire, Sylvain Maillard or former premier Élisabeth Borne.

Israel Observatory: "Resignation necessary for UN credibility"

"The Israel Observatory expresses satisfaction with the position taken by France and, in particular, by Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who has formally requested the resignation of Francesca Albanese from her post as UN special rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories". This was written in a note by the same Observatory, whose president Nicolae Galea defines it as 'a necessary and I would say imperative step.

International institutions cannot turn into platforms for systematic delegitimisation against Israel. The credibility of UN bodies is based on criteria of impartiality, balance and legal rigour, which must apply first and foremost to those in positions of international responsibility.

We now expect that other countries will follow the French example and that the UN will finally decide to sever all relations with Mrs Albanese'.

Albanese takes note of French retreat: 'I expected an apology from Paris'

I note that French diplomacy has finally changed its mind. I would have expected a word of clarification and an apology because they insulted me in a harsh and unacceptable way'. This is what Francesca Albanese says, interviewed by BFMTV after France's retreat on the resignation request at the UN in Geneva.