The international community is "epically failing" in its response to the Israel-Gaza war as innocent civilians continue to die, the UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories tells the National Press Club in Canberra.

  • [UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories] Francesca Albanese has taken aim at the global response to the Israel-Gaza war.

  • She says the death toll and number of injured people will continue to rise.

  • Her address follows a speech from the Israeli ambassador to the Press Club last month.

“The international community is almost completely paralysed [and] I am being generous when I say almost,” she said.

"The UN [is] experiencing its most epic political and humanitarian failure since its creation.

“Individual member states, especially in the West – and Australia is no exception – are on the margins, muttering inaudible words of condemnation … or staying silent in fear of restraining Israel’s self-proclaimed right to self-defence – whatever it means.”

She said under international law, Israel had the right to protect itself, but not the right to wage a war.