U.S. imposes sanctions on UN expert Francesca Albanese following her criticism of Israel

 U.S. imposes sanctions on UN expert Francesca Albanese following her criticism of Israel

The UN rapporteur seems to reject the Trump administration's economic sanctions, describing them as 'mafia-like intimidation tactics

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, attends a side event during the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland

The administration of  U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on United Nations human rights expert Francesca Albanese in response to her reports documenting Israeli abuses against Palestinians during the war on Gaza.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures on Wednesday, accusing Albanese of leading a “campaign of political and economic warfare” against both the United States and Israel. Albanese, who currently serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, has emerged as a prominent global advocate for accountability regarding Israel’s human rights violations.

For years, Israel and its allies have strongly criticized Albanese, frequently demanding her removal from the UN position.

In a statement to Al Jazeera, Albanese appeared unfazed by the U.S. sanctions, saying she remains focused on her mission.
“No comment on mafia-style intimidation techniques,” she wrote via text. “I’m busy reminding member states of their obligations to stop and punish genocide—and those who profit from it.”

Earlier that day, she condemned European governments for permitting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on war crimes charges related to Gaza to travel through their airspace.
“Italian, French and Greek citizens deserve to know that every political action violating the international legal order weakens and endangers all of them and all of us,” she posted on social media.

Rubio cited Albanese’s calls for ICC prosecution of Israeli officials as justification for the sanctions. Trump had previously issued an executive order in February allowing the U.S. to penalize ICC officials deemed to be targeting Israel. On Wednesday, Rubio also accused Albanese of anti Semitism.

“That bias has been evident throughout her career, including her advocacy for ICC arrest warrants targeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant—without any legitimate basis,” Rubio stated.

The ICC has charged both Netanyahu and Gallant with war crimes and crimes against humanity for depriving Palestinians in Gaza of vital necessities like food, water, and medicine.

Rubio also referred to Albanese’s latest report, which highlighted the involvement of international especially U.S. companies in what she described as a genocidal military campaign against Gaza.

“We will not tolerate these acts of political and economic warfare that threaten our national interests and sovereignty,” Rubio declared.

The Trump era executive order authorizes the freezing of U.S. based assets belonging to targeted individuals and bars them and their immediate family members from entering the country.

Nancy Okail, president of the Center for International Policy (CIP), condemned the sanctions as deeply damaging.
“Sanctioning a UN expert sends a dangerous message—it suggests the U.S. is behaving like authoritarian regimes,” 

Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard also voiced concern, saying she was “dismayed” by the decision.

“Special Rapporteurs are independent experts. They’re not appointed to appease governments but to fulfill their mandate,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Francesca Albanese is diligently documenting Israel’s unlawful occupation, apartheid, and genocide based on international law.”

Callamard urged world governments to act swiftly to protect Albanese and counter the effects of the sanctions, stressing the need to defend the independence and integrity of UN special rapporteurs.

Over the past 21 months, Israel’s U.S. backed offensive has devastated Gaza, with local health authorities reporting at least 57,575 Palestinians killed and vast areas of the territory reduced to rubble.

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