Ex-UN official claims organization ignores Sudan and Yemen atrocities

Dr. Alice Jill Edwards, who served as the UN special rapporteur on torture from 2022 to 2026, has criticized the international body for what she describes as a disproportionate focus on Israel. The former official argues that the organization has failed to apply the same level of scrutiny to conflicts in Sudan, Yemen, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where civilians continue to suffer mass violence.

Edwards visited the kibbutzim in the Gaza border area in December 2024, more than a year after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. She observed bullet holes in residential buildings and damage to household appliances such as microwaves and refrigerators. The visit reinforced her view that the international community’s response to the massacre lacked sufficient balance.

“This is entirely unlawful under international law,” Edwards said regarding attacks on civilians. She noted that the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and the special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories did not produce specific reports or documentation on the October 7 events, despite having the authority and opportunity to do so.

Edwards stated that her colleagues often cited a lack of access from Israel as a reason for the delay. She disputed this explanation, pointing out that she herself had been criticized for relying on Israeli information while basing her own findings on independent sources. “It’s kind of a contradictory statement,” she said, regarding the inconsistency in how access was handled.

The former rapporteur highlighted a disparity in the volume of UN communications since the attack. She reported approximately 50 communications concerning Israel, compared with around 10 concerning Sudan and a number in the mid-teens for the Russia-Ukraine war. She cited 90,000 documented and verified rapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo last year as evidence of the scale of underreported atrocities elsewhere.

Edwards described an internal atmosphere of “bullying and intimidation” within the UN human rights machinery. She said colleagues attempted to soften the language of reports concerning October 7 and worked to prevent other officials from endorsing the documents. She noted that some staff members have left the organization because they felt unable to perform their work in an environment where only one view of the conflict was accepted.

“We should be able to do our work without feeling like if we speak out, there will be repercussions,” Edwards said. She argued that the current environment makes it frightening for professionals to voice dissenting opinions or present alternative perspectives on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The former official placed limited responsibility on UN Secretary-General António Guterres, noting that his influence over individual rapporteurs was constrained. However, she suggested that stronger leadership would have been beneficial. She advised that the next secretary-general prioritize peacemaking and conflict prevention to repair the organization’s credibility in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Edwards also addressed Israel’s role in restoring confidence in the international process. She expressed disappointment at the lack of international observers in Gaza and the absence of access to Israeli prisons. She suggested that Israel consider allowing two international judges to participate in relevant judicial proceedings without transferring cases to an international court. “I think the reputation of Israel is also at an all-time low,” she said, adding that improving it would help open the door to a peace process.

The former rapporteur emphasized that her position is not a bias against one side. She said her work has involved investigating allegations against Israeli authorities regarding the treatment of Palestinian prisoners as well as abuses in other conflicts. “I want things to be fair,” she said, urging the organization to maintain a line of integrity by investigating and calling out violations whenever they occur.