GENEVA – The World Jewish Congress has been active at the ongoing session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, working to focus global attention on the plight of the remaining hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas.

Speaking at the UNHRC, WJC International Relations Officer Elizaveta Zaidman denounced a highly politicized and divisive report released by United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese and reiterated WJC's support for a two-state solution.

Full text of statement:

Thank you, Mr. President.

The World Jewish Congress is a staunch supporter of the two-state solution, and we work with international organizations and governments around the world to that aim.

At the same time, we are deeply troubled about the negative contribution of the present mandate in achieving this goal. We find much of its structure and outputs to be divisive, politicized, and inflammatory. It seeks to entrench divisions and a one-sided narrative, instead of pursuing a balanced and inclusive approach. It operates under discredited agenda Item 7, which is the sole item that focuses on a particular country instead of having a universal perspective.

The current mandate perpetuates a deliberately biased approach which allows to misconstrue facts, disregards the right of the Jewish people to their ancestral homeland and the State of Israel to exist, and ignores the antisemitic genocidal intent of terrorist groups such as Hamas.

Mr. President,

We are concerned that the role of the United Nations as a potential peacemaker is further undermined by the work of this mandate. Peacemakers create hope and strive for common understanding, and do not spread false narratives and libelous allegations. It thus fails to “strengthen universal peace,” as mandated by Article 1 of the UN Charter.

If Members of this Council are genuinely interested in putting an end to this conflict, they should promote efforts to create opportunities for dialogue, rather than division. Otherwise, this Council becomes part of the problem, and not the solution.

Thank you.