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Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, has defended a comment she made on the events unfolding in Syria after it appeared to be in support of the Syrian regime.

Albanese, who is known for being outspoken against the Israeli occupation and actions in the besieged Gaza Strip, received backlash after commenting on an .

Mizrahi weighed in on the rebel offensive in Syria, saying: "You don't need to support Assad to realise his critical role in maintaining Syria's integrity and political independence (against Western colonialism and theft). You can even hate Assad and still see that.

"There is a reason why the US goes after those leaders, and not after leaders of other Arab and Muslim countries. It's Arab independence and pride they don't want" he continued, adding that he would love to see free and democratic Arab countries, but not through the "surrender to western imperialism and its corruptive influences".

"Israel and the US support the mercenary groups because they promised them that once they hold power, they will relinquish Syria'demand for a return of the occupied Golan Heights, and some other very beneficial arrangements," he said.

Albanese responded to the post, saying: "Always prescient", and triggering a wave of criticism.

"I advise you to stop tweeting to preserve your much-needed credibility," Palestinian political analyst Khalil Sayegh urgedÌýAlbanese.

"This person was praising Putin (an ICC-wanted war criminal like Netanyahu) last month and has had nothing to say about Assad/Russia killing dozens of Syrian civilians and bombing a hospital over the last few days," Daniel Wickman, a human rights commentator said.

Syrians also denounced Albanese's apparent agreement with Mizrahi's statement.

"Hello Francesca, as a Syrian this is really upsetting, I am deeply inspired by your continuous noble stance on Palestine, but Syrians endured the exact same war crimes as Palestinians have, I would hope that you look into all the court cases in Europe and across the world that Syrians have filed against the Assad regime," Celine Kasem, a Syrian activist, said.

The comments came after Syrian rebels launched an offensive against Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad, rapidly advancing across northwest Syria and taking control of Aleppo and Idlib.

Albanese clarifying her stance, saying: "I should have known better. Twitterland's and its users' maximalism allow no crypticism".

"My use of the term 'prescient' was in reference to Alon's point on the little value some Western countries attach to human rights and democracy, including in the region, that leads them to support or dislike brutal dictators based on their own interests. That was it," she said.

She also clarified her position on the Assad regime's torture and persecution of Syrians, after many accused her of being pro-regime.

"I will say that once and no more: I am profoundly, painfully aware of the endless horrors and tragedies the Syrian people (and others living there including the Palestinians) have gone through over the past 12+ years. I will always stand with the victims of human rights violations and abuses, and never with the perpetrators," she added.

Since Syrian rebels advanced across northwest Syria, the Assad-loyal Syrian army said they were redeploying forces from areas it had controlled in Aleppo and Idlib provinces with the aim of "strengthening the defence lines to absorb the attack".

On Sunday morning, the city of Idlib was hit by several Russian air strikes, killing at least one person, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. On Saturday, Russian strikes killed 17 people in the rebel-held province.

The "Deterrence of Aggression" offensive in northwest Syria has reignited what many believe was Syria’s stagnant civil war.

Groups in Idlib launched it as a means to stop the Assad regime'sÌýcontinued shelling of civilian areas in Idlib.