The United States has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, accusing her of “campaigning for political, economic warfare” against the USA and its key ally, Israel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on Wednesday in a post on X, formerly Twitter, calling Albanese’s actions “illegitimate and shameful”.
He said the measures were in response to her efforts to push the International Criminal Court to take action against American and Israeli officials, companies and executives.
“Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated,” Rubio wrote. “We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defence.”
Albanese, who was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, repeatedly describing it as “genocide”.
She has also urged states to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing the 2024 arrest warrant issued by the Hague-based International Criminal Court.
Speaking at the UN earlier this month, Albanese called for all countries to impose a comprehensive arms embargo and suspend trade agreements with Israel in response to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Shortly after the US announcement, Albanese responded on X, saying, “I stand firmly and convincingly on the side of justice, as I have always done.”
Neither the US nor Israel is a member of the ICC and both have rejected the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
Albanese’s appointment and outspoken stance have been a point of friction between Washington and the UNHRC.
Former US President Donald Trump accused the council of bias and anti-Semitism during his first term, and earlier this year, the Biden administration announced that the US would withdraw from the council, echoing Trump’s earlier decision.
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