• UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese calls for collective action against Israel's military operations in Gaza.
• Over 58,000 Palestinians killed since Israel's assaults began in October 2023.
• Conference in Colombia attended by 30 nations discussing diplomatic measures against Israel.

The United Nations’ special rapporteur for Gaza and the West Bank, Francesca Albanese, has urged nations around the world to take immediate actions to stop what she described as the “genocide” in Gaza. Speaking at a two-day conference in Colombia's capital, Bogotá, Albanese stated, “Each state must immediately review and suspend all ties with the State of Israel ... and ensure its private sector does the same,” emphasizing that Israel's economy supports its genocidal policies against Palestinians, according to latimes and aljazeera.

The conference, co-chaired by Colombia and South Africa, has drawn delegates primarily from developing nations, alongside representatives from Spain, Ireland, and China, to discuss measures to counter Israel's military offensive, which has reportedly killed over 58,000 people since launching in October 2023, with significant humanitarian concerns expressed regarding the 2.3 million residents of Gaza living under dire conditions, as reported by trtglobal and africanews.

Albanese highlighted that “the Israeli economy is structured to sustain the occupation that has now turned genocidal,” calling for comprehensive reviews of diplomatic, economic, and military relationships with Israel. The discussions included talk of sanctions and other diplomatic actions, raising questions about the effectiveness of the conference participants in influencing Israeli policy, according to latimes and trtglobal.

Colombia’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mauricio Jaramillo, noted the gathering’s significance in shaping responses that go beyond just the Palestinian plight by addressing wider international law and human rights issues. Jaramillo stated, “This is not just about Palestine... it is about defending international law and the right to self-determination,” illustrating a broader scope of the conference's objectives, as mentioned in both aljazeera and africanews.

While the gathering serves as a platform for the Global South to express their stance, analysts question whether these nations have sufficient leverage to compel Israel to alter its aggressive strategies, especially as the United States has been primarily unyielding in influencing Israeli actions over the years, according to trtglobal and latimes.