UN Special Rapporteur Albanese: Israel 'Outsourcing Coercion' to Settlers to Advance 'Ethnic Cleansing' of West Bank

UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese said Monday, August 17, 2026, amid the ongoing Qusra siege, that 'Israel has outsourced coercion to the settlers, and Israel is advancing violently the ethnic cleansing of Palestine through the settlers,' calling the situation 'incredibly and utterly shameful.' She linked the settler sieges and new outposts — including tents pitched near Umm Safa the same week — to earlier statements by Israeli officials about expanding West Bank operations following the Gaza campaign. Israel has previously rejected Albanese's mandate and accused her of bias.