Francesca Albanese (Image: Getty)
The recent call by Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories, for a global medical boycott of marks yet another alarming milestone in the UN’s descent into anti-Zionist activism. Far from being an impartial advocate for human rights, Albanese has consistently demonstrated an obsessive and deeply biased fixation on —one that compromises the credibility of her office and the principles of the United Nations.
Francesca Albanese’s track record is emblematic of the broader malaise afflicting the UN system. Since assuming her role, Albanese has repeatedly used her platform to amplify anti- rhetoric while ignoring the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Her statements often eschew nuance in favour of inflammatory accusations, painting as uniquely malign while absolving other actors of responsibility.
This is not a new trend. Before her appointment, Albanese’s social media posts and public comments raised red flags about her impartiality. She has likened to apartheid-era South Africa and accused it of “ethnic cleansing” — claims that are not only factually contentious but also fuel anti-Semitic tropes. Her rhetoric aligns disturbingly with the growing international trend of conflating criticism of Israeli policies with delegitimisation of the Jewish state itself.
Over the years, the UN has transformed from an institution dedicated to safeguarding human dignity into a platform where , the world’s only Jewish state, is persistently vilified. The medical boycott is merely the latest chapter in a long, disheartening saga.
The idea of a medical boycott should alarm anyone who values the sanctity of healthcare. has long been a leader in medical innovation, contributing life-saving technologies and expertise to the global community. From pioneering cancer treatments to developing the pill camera for non-invasive diagnostics, ’s impact on global healthcare is profound and indiscriminate. These advancements do not stop at ’s borders—they save lives in Africa, Asia, and even within countries that refuse to recognise ’s existence.
Even more egregious is the impact such a boycott would have on Palestinians.
Thousands of Palestinian patients receive critical care in Israeli hospitals every year, treatments often unavailable elsewhere in the region. Cutting off access to these medical services would harm the very people the UN claims to support, weaponizing their suffering to score political points.
To understand the depth of this problem, one must view it within the broader context of the UN’s conduct towards . In 2023 alone, the UN General Assembly passed more resolutions against than against Iran, North Korea, and Syria combined. —a liberal democracy with robust protections for minority rights—faces more condemnation than regimes responsible for systemic oppression and crimes against humanity.
The obsession is not only disproportionate but deliberate. Anti-Zionism, cloaked in the rhetoric of human rights, has become an acceptable proxy for anti-Semitism. By framing as uniquely malign, the UN emboldens those who wish to delegitimise the Jewish state entirely. The effect is a chilling erosion of the principles the UN was founded to uphold.
It is worth dissecting the motives behind the call for a medical boycott. Ostensibly, it is framed as a response to alleged injustices by . In reality, it is a deeply cynical manoeuvre that targets the core of ’s humanity: its contribution to the betterment of the world. Medicine, one of the few domains that should remain apolitical, is being used as a weapon against a nation that exemplifies innovation and compassion.
This is not merely anti-Zionism—it is anti-Semitism, thinly veiled. The Jewish state is being held to a moral standard so uniquely high that no nation, no matter how virtuous, could ever meet it. Meanwhile, egregious violations of human rights in nations like Iran and Syria receive barely a whisper of condemnation.
The ramifications of this politicisation extend far beyond . If the global community begins to condone boycotts of medical collaboration based on political biases, the entire foundation of international healthcare will be undermined. The Hippocratic Oath, a cornerstone of medical ethics, demands that doctors treat all patients without prejudice.
A boycott would violate this principle and establish a precedent where politics dictate who deserves care.
The UN must be held accountable for this betrayal of its founding principles. Its fixation on is not just an affront to one nation; it is an affront to the values of fairness and
justice that the organisation was created to uphold. By allowing itself to be co-opted by anti-Zionist agendas, the UN erodes its credibility and alienates those who once viewed it as a force for good.
The path forward must involve a re-examination of the UN’s priorities. Instead of fixating on , the organisation should address the genuine crises facing the world: from genocides in Myanmar and Xinjiang to the suppression of women’s rights in Afghanistan. Anything less is not just a failure of leadership but a moral abdication.
The UN’s increasing embrace of anti-Zionism under the guise of human rights advocacy is a dangerous trend that must be challenged. , like any nation, is not beyond critique. But when criticism morphs into obsession, and when that obsession targets the very existence of the Jewish state, we must recognise it for what it is: anti-Semitism.
The medical boycott is a line that must not be crossed. Medicine is a force for unity and healing, not a tool for division. Those who truly value human rights should reject this proposal outright and demand that the UN return to its founding.
Catherine Perez Shakdam is the Executive Director at We Believe in