Ex-UN Expert Slams Colleagues for Anti-Israel Obsession

Alice Jill Edwards, who served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture from August 2022 to July 2026, has sharply criticized her UN colleagues, accusing them of an "obsessive focus" on one side of the Gaza conflict, which she believes undermines the UN's credibility. In a personal opinion piece published in the British "Daily Telegraph," Edwards described her visit to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, approximately 14 months after the October 7th massacre, as one of the most difficult moments of her tenure. She was led through the destroyed homes of residents by Mendi Damari and Shimona Steinbraker, mothers of hostages Emily and Doron.

Edwards concluded that the abduction of hostages should be considered a form of torture, extending the suffering to the families awaiting news of their loved ones. She also cited Hamas's release of videos, such as one showing hostage Avitar David digging his own grave, as a tactic to pressure Israel through the hostages' families, also deeming it a form of torture. Edwards noted that some released hostages and their families felt the UN had not done enough for them.

She specifically criticized Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories occupied, and Rim al-Salameh, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, for not officially documenting rape, sexual abuse, and severe violence despite what Edwards called "irrefutable evidence." Edwards stated that both rapporteurs continued to publish one-sided reports and offered justifications for their lack of engagement that were difficult to accept. Al-Salameh cited Israel's refusal of access as a reason for not expanding her investigation, while Edwards countered that even after hostage releases, the two rapporteurs did not give weight to testimonies of torture and deprivation.

Edwards also highlighted systemic failures within the UN, including a meager budget for her unpaid role, an overwhelming workload, and reliance on country-specific funding that could lead to political influence. She mentioned over 2,000 unprocessed complaints and expressed concern that lawyers for victims might hesitate to share sensitive information with government-funded rapporteurs. Edwards suggested consolidating donations into a central budget for equitable distribution. She believes there is a lack of genuine will to reform the system, even from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whom she previously worked under.

Edwards sees the upcoming race for the next Secretary-General as an opportunity for change, stating that Guterres has failed to fulfill the UN's role as an effective and impartial mediator. She called for the next Secretary-General to take a more assertive stance, given the highest number of wars since the UN's founding in 1945. She also criticized the selection process for the Secretary-General, where candidates must be careful not to alienate major powers like the US, China, and Russia. Edwards also expressed surprise at the extent of torture against Ukrainian soldiers and civilians by Russian forces, comparing Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland.

Lawyer Ayelet Razin-Bit-Or, who works on documenting sexual violence from October 7th and the hostage crisis, commented that Edwards's clear, direct, and brave voice contrasts sharply with the silence and conduct of other UN human rights officials who failed their basic duty to victims of sexual violence and torture by Hamas. Razin-Bit-Or emphasized that Edwards's testimony is crucial as it comes from within the system and highlights that human rights are not a political stance, and protection for victims of sexual violence cannot be selective. She concluded that the failure to properly acknowledge Israeli victims' testimonies is a profound blow to the credibility of international institutions and the trust of victims worldwide.