Francesca Albanese says Egypt gas deal with Israel violates international law

The UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese condemned Egypt's mega gas deal with Israel, saying it contravenes international law.

Albanese wrote in a post on X: "Egypt can say what it wants but purchasing $35bn of gas from Israel violates int'l law, including the ICJ advisory opinion of 2024, and is, honestly, an incredible sign of support to Israel during the genocide of the Palestinians."

"States must stop placing profits above humanity."

Under the agreement announced earlier this week, Israel will increase the total volume of gas supplied to Egypt to 130 billion cubic metres.

Egypt said the agreement had nothing to do with politics and was a "strictly commercial" arrangement that served a strategic interest for the country.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, described it as the largest gas deal in Israel's history.