The Chris Hedges Report Episode: The Member States Complicit in GENOCIDE (w/ Francesca Albanese) Date: November 13, 2025

Overview

In this powerful episode, Chris Hedges interviews Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestine, about her recent report, "Gaza Genocide, a Collective Crime." The conversation explores the direct complicity of 63 nations in sustaining what Albanese and others are now labeling the Israeli genocide in Gaza. They discuss the mechanisms of diplomatic, military, and commercial support for Israel, the weaponization of trade and aid, the global consequences of this impunity, and the mounting failures and betrayals by international institutions and governments. Albanese offers a stark indictment of both Western and regional actors, examines the broader imperial context, and discusses avenues for citizens to resist and demand accountability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Disconnect Between Political Discourse and On-the-Ground Reality in Gaza

• Ceasefire in Name Only: Despite international declarations of a ceasefire, violence, starvation, and deprivation continue in Gaza, with over 230 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire, including 50 children in a single day. (04:30–06:20)

  • "There is a complete disconnect between reality and the political discourse… There is no peace." — Francesca Albanese [04:30]

• Ongoing Blockade and Control: Israel continues to control over half of Gaza, limiting reconstruction supplies, food, and essentials, and keeping the population in confined spaces.

  • "Anything related to sustainability is prohibited… many food items are also prohibited because they're considered luxurious." — Francesca Albanese [07:34]

2. Systemic International Complicity and Failure

• Diplomatic Cover and Arms Shipments: The US is singled out for providing diplomatic protection via Security Council vetoes and military aid; Germany and the UK are also heavily implicated.

  • "While the United States and Germany alone have provided about 90% of Israel's arms export, at least 26 states have supplied or facilitated the transfer of arms or components…" — Francesca Albanese [20:48]
  • US Congress passed $26.4 billion in arms for Israel during active threats to Rafah. [00:10]

• Economic Interests and Profiting: Western and non-Western states continue to do robust trade with Israel, benefiting from the very military industry implicated in the genocide.

  • "Exports of electronics, pharmaceuticals, energy, minerals… have totaled almost $500 billion... One third of this trade is with the European Union..." — Francesca Albanese [20:48]

• Arab and Global South Complicity: Arab states continue economic and security ties; other countries in Africa and Asia have shifted diplomatically in exchange for military and tech deals, notably India.

  • "Arab states... have continued to deepen economic ties. Only a few states have marginally reduced trade during genocide." — Francesca Albanese [20:48]

• Weaponization of ‘Aid’ and Hypocrisy: Aid and sanctions have been weaponized, with the EU sanctioning Russia over Ukraine, but continuing with Israel. [00:10]

• Suppression of Dissent: Across Europe and the West, protest, speech, and academic freedoms regarding Palestine are being actively repressed.

  • "Any kind of attempt at maintaining the light turned on Palestine... is assaulted... this is why I'm saying we are far, far beyond the mismanagement… it's active complicity." — Francesca Albanese [09:17]

3. The Vision and Mechanisms of “Greater Israel” and Imperial Control

• Not Just Territorial Expansion: Albanese argues that "Greater Israel" refers not merely to borders, but to economic, military, and political domination of the region in concert with US imperial interests.

  • "Domination can be exerted, established other than by expanding the physical borders... through domination and financial control, control from outside power..." — Francesca Albanese [11:13]

• Gaza as the Last Resistance: The Palestinians represent the final resistance to this project, hence the ferocity of Israel’s campaign and international backing.

  • "They don't want to be tamed, they don't want to be dominated. So they are the last frontier of resistance." — Francesca Albanese [11:13]

• American Troops and Depopulation: The deployment/possible involvement of US troops is seen as part of further efforts to depopulate Gaza.

  • "I don't trust any promise made to the Palestinians either by Israel or by the United States… the beginning of genocide has changed my perception of the world." — Francesca Albanese [15:06]

4. Collapse of the International Legal Order

• Failure of the United Nations: Albanese describes a loss of faith in the UN as a venue for peace, given its inability or unwillingness to enforce law in this context.

  • "For me personally, it's the end of an era of innocence when I really believed that the United Nations were a place where things could still be advanced in the pursuit of peace. Now I don't think so..." — Francesca Albanese [15:06]

• Misapplication of International Law: The legal justification for Israel's war—self-defense—is challenged. Albanese notes Israel may defend itself, but not wage war against a non-state actor; member states disregard this distinction.

  • "Article 51… can only be done against states and where there is a concrete threat… That's not the case here." — Francesca Albanese [16:43]

• The West’s Dehumanization Narrative: The West’s framing of Palestinians as ‘savages’ fosters impunity for Israeli crimes and underpins state inaction.

  • "Palestinians have returned to be wrapped into this colonial tropism… This is the narrative that the West has used toward the Palestinians. And by doing that, it has created… fertile ground for Israel's impunity." — Francesca Albanese [18:55]

5. Israeli Military Industry and Transnational Repression

• Global Arms Trade and “Battle-Tested” Weapons: Israel’s arms—including drones, surveillance systems, and some of the most advanced weaponry—are tested on Palestinians and marketed globally. Trade with Europe, India, and even Arab states is booming.

  • "Weapon and military technology sale is a core component of Israel's economy..." — Francesca Albanese [29:29]
  • "Selling to so many other countries… with India being the major, but also 12%… purchased by Arab countries..." — Francesca Albanese [29:29]

• Export of Methods of Control: Israeli security and surveillance methods, perfected on Palestinians, are sold worldwide, employed against migrants at borders, and against protest movements.

  • "These tools of control and securitization have concentrated in the hands of those who are fortifying borders at the expense of refugees and migrants..." — Francesca Albanese [33:56]

• Societal Militarization: Former soldiers and security operatives dominate Israel’s tech and global security industries, exporting both hardware and tactics.

  • "The majority of the people of Israelis go through the army and then many... transfer their know-how into their next career steps." — Francesca Albanese [33:56]

6. What Can Citizens Do?

• Critical Juncture: With governments veering towards repression and complicity, the burden shifts to the public.

  • "We have passed the alarm area… the system led by governments is accentuating its authoritarian traits..." — Francesca Albanese [39:40]

• Boycott, Divestment, & Accountability: Citizens can refuse to buy products and services from entities connected to occupation and genocide; support BDS and divestment initiatives; push institutions to cut ties.

  • "Do not buy products connected or services connected to the legality of the occupation, the apartheid and the genocide... students, faculty members, and staff… mapped what each university does." — Francesca Albanese [39:40]

• Alternative Consumption & Platforms: Reduce reliance on tech and commerce platforms linked to Israel; support local bookstores and alternatives to Amazon, Airbnb, Booking.com.

  • "We might also return to buy books in libraries… reduce our reliance on the tools that have been used, that have been perfected through the slaughter of the Palestinians..." — Francesca Albanese [41:54]

• Legal Action & Advocacy: Support legal actions against state and corporate actors; persist in holding governments accountable through multiple avenues.

  • "Plurality of actions from a plurality of actors… help dismantle the occupation and the apartheid. It's a long trajectory, and the fight has just started." — Francesca Albanese [43:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Illusion of Peace:
  • "There is a complete disconnect between reality and the political discourse… There is no peace." — Francesca Albanese [04:30]
• On Western Hypocrisy:
  • "There is a tendency to treat Ukraine vis a vis Russia in a very different fashion than Palestine versus Israel… there is an element of Orientalism." — Francesca Albanese [24:39]
• On Modern Imperialism:
  • "Greater Israel is the quintessential explanation of the US imperialistic design in that part of the world… The Palestinians remain a thorn in the side." — Francesca Albanese [11:13]
• On The Future:
  • "Palestine today is a metaphor of our life. And where our life is going to go is clearly evident in this." — Francesca Albanese [41:54]
• On the Collapse of Moral Legitimacy:
  • "It's the end of an era of innocence when I really believed that the United Nations were a place where things could still be advanced in the pursuit of peace." — Francesca Albanese [15:06]
• On Protesting and Civic Action:
  • "It's up to us citizens… to be vigilant and to make sure that we do not buy products connected… to the occupation, apartheid and genocide." — Francesca Albanese [39:40]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:10] – Introduction & context for the report, overview of international complicity
• [04:30] – Reality of Gaza post-ceasefire, continued violence and deprivation
• [07:34] – Restrictions on aid and reconstruction, legal justifications, global protests stifled
• [11:13] – Broader ambitions of Israel and US, concept of “Greater Israel”
• [15:06] – Loss of faith in international legal order and the UN
• [20:48] – Military and economic complicity, profits from genocide, details of trade
• [24:39] – Types and effects of weapons supplied, hypocrisy in application of law
• [29:29] – Arms trade and shifting political alignments in the Global South and Asia
• [33:56] – Export of Israeli security methods, internal repression and global repercussions
• [39:40] – Repression of activism; citizen action and resistance moving forward

Tone & Language

The conversation is urgent, uncompromising, and sorrowful. Albanese is candid in her disappointment with international institutions and direct in condemning Western hypocrisy, but also calls for grassroots determination, solidarity, and direct action. Chris Hedges' questions are sharp and probing, matching the gravity of the topic.

This episode is essential for understanding the degree of international complicity in the ongoing tragedy in Gaza, the failures of political and legal systems, and the global implications of unchecked state violence—and for those seeking avenues to resist or act in solidarity.