Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and voiced support for divestment at a virtual talk on Monday.
Her talk, hosted by the Center for Middle East Studies, was titled “Anatomy of a Genocide,” named for a report that Albanese presented to the UN Human Rights Council in March in which she found “reasonable grounds” that genocide was being committed by the Israeli army in its war in Gaza.
Albanese was originally scheduled to speak in person on Brown’s campus, but organizers moved the event online following “unforeseen issues with her visa,” according to an email from the Center for Middle East Studies.
In her initial statement, Albanese described the humanitarian toll of Israel’s war in Gaza as the “monstrosity of this century” and outlined the alleged human rights violations committed by Israel in the West Bank and Gaza.
“To justify the protection of their security, Israel continues to take land from the Palestinians, subjugate the Palestinians and impose conditions of life that result in humiliation and indignities,” she told the virtual audience.
Albanese also stated that she has been “adamant” in condemning Hamas for its attacks on Israelis, but she noted that international law places “limits” on how states can respond to such attacks.
In the lead up to Albanese’s talk, some students expressed concerns about the Center for Middle East Studies decision to extend an invitation to Albanese.
Zoë Schwartz ’26 sent a letter to University administrators last week urging them to reconsider hosting Albanese on campus. The letter pointed to previous statements that Albanese had made in which she expressed “blatant antisemitism and support for terrorism against Jews.”
The letter has more than 2,400 signatories from current students, alumni and other community members.
“What I'm concerned about is her overt statements of antisemitic tropes,” Schwartz said, adding that bringing this rhetoric to campus would be “dangerous for all of the Jews on campus, regardless of their affiliations with Israel or Palestine.”
In a statement to The Herald, University Spokesperson Brian Clark wrote that Brown has a “commitment to independent thought, free inquiry and the open exchange of ideas.”
“We are a university that regards as part of its mission that members should host debates and discussions where speakers with varying and opposing perspectives confront many of the most difficult issues facing society today,” Clark wrote in an email to The Herald.
After Albanese’s presentation, Elias Muhanna, a professor of comparative literature and director of Middle East Studies, asked questions submitted by virtual audience members.
When asked about her opinion on American universities divesting from companies with ties to Israel, Albanese responded that “there is an obligation not to aid and assist the unlawful presence that Israel maintains.”
In another answer, Albanese pushed back against claims of widespread antisemitism in Gaza, characterizing them as an “overstatement.”
“I’m not saying that it is not true, but I don’t think that it’s the rule,” she said. She explained that from her observations, Palestinians have an “acceptance” of Israelis but are staunchly opposed to Israel’s “apartheid regime or the blockade of Gaza.”
During the talk, Muhanna asked Albanese to address a specific comment she made in 2014 describing America as “subjugated by the Jewish lobby.”
Albanese responded by apologizing for her choice of words, but she claimed that it was “so obvious” that she was referring to “pro-Israel groups” that “interfere” in U.S. politics.
“I get attacked for what I stand for, which is the application of justice,” she said. “Attacking anyone who expressed criticism against the state of Israel … is a way to distract the attention from where it should be.”
Earlier on Monday, a truck with displays accusing Albanese of pro-Hamas rhetoric was spotted circling around Brown’s College Hill campus.
The truck featured alleged quotes by Albanese about Palestinian resistance next to alleged quotes from Hamas fighters celebrating violence against Jews. The Herald was unable to verify the veracity of these quotes, and Albanese did not respond to a request for comment.
Owen Dahlkamp contributed reporting.
Correction: A previous version of this story stated that some students had expressed concern over "the University's decision" to invite Albanese to speak on campus. The invitation was made by the Center for Middle East Studies. The Herald regrets the error.
Sophia Wotman is a senior staff writer covering activism. She is a junior from Long Island, New York concentrating in Political Science with a focus on women’s rights. She is a jazz trumpet player, and often performs on campus and around Providence.
