The United States has imposed sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian rights, Francesca Albanese, over what it claims is her “unfair” criticism of Israel.
Francesca Albanese, an Italian lawyer, serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories—one of dozens of experts appointed by the 47-member UN Human Rights Council to report on specific issues around the globe.
She has long criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, and earlier this month released a report accusing at least 60 companies—including some based in the U.S.—of supporting illegal settlements in the West Bank and crimes committed by the Israeli military in Gaza.
The U.S. has imposed similar sanctions on International Criminal Court officials over arrest warrants issued against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for war crimes.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that Albanese’s name would be added to the U.S. sanctions list, citing her work as inciting what Washington calls “unlawful prosecutions” of Israelis at the International Criminal Court.
Albanese called the U.S. sanctions against her a sign of “guilt,” while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Washington to reverse the decision.
Israel denies that its forces are committing war crimes or genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza war. The U.S., once an active member of the Human Rights Council, withdrew under President Donald Trump, claiming the body is biased against Israel.
