UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese releases report on Palestinian media

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, has submitted a report to the General Assembly titled ‘Truth under the Rubble: Media in the Time of Genocide’. The report argues that the destruction of truth is integral to the destruction of the Palestinian people, a phenomenon Albanese terms ‘mediacide’.

The report identifies three primary patterns: the targeted elimination of Palestinian media workers through killing, detention, and intimidation; the establishment of an information regime in Israel involving censorship and propaganda; and the role of international media and digital platforms in marginalizing Palestinian voices and normalizing legal distortions. Albanese concludes that these practices have facilitated genocide and obstructed accountability.

The findings have faced immediate pushback. The New York Times rejected the report’s claims, stating they were ‘not impartial’ and lacked proof regarding external influence on editorial guidance. The report had previously criticized the outlet for its cautious use of the term ‘genocide’ and for providing what Albanese described as ‘humanitarian camouflage’ through its coverage of safe zones.