Fri Jul 11 06:53:09 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, geared towards an Indian audience interested in international affairs:

**Summary:**

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories and a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, has been sanctioned by the U.S. government. This follows failed attempts by the U.S. to have her removed from her UN post. Albanese, undeterred, has defended her views, accusing the U.S. of trying to silence her for defending the vulnerable. The U.S. Secretary of State claims Albanese waged political and economic warfare against the U.S. and Israel, while others see the US move as setting a dangerous precedent. This occurred as Israeli PM Netanyahu visited Washington, despite facing an ICC arrest warrant. The UN, Human Rights Watch, and the Center for Constitutional Rights have opposed the U.S. sanctions.

**News Article:**

**U.S. Sanctions UN Investigator Critical of Israeli Actions, Drawing International Condemnation**

*New Delhi, July 11, 2025* – The United States has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, sparking controversy and drawing condemnation from the United Nations, human rights organizations, and legal experts. The move comes amidst escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip and coincides with a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington.

Albanese, an outspoken critic of Israeli policies, has been tasked with investigating human rights abuses in Palestinian territories. She has described the current situation in Gaza as a “genocide,” a charge vehemently denied by both Israel and the United States.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the sanctions, accusing Albanese of engaging in “political and economic warfare” against the United States and Israel. “We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense,” Rubio stated on social media.

However, Albanese has remained defiant, asserting that the sanctions are an attempt to silence her for defending the rights of Palestinians. “This is not a sign of power, it’s a sign of guilt,” she told the Associated Press in an interview in Sarajevo.

The UN, Human Rights Watch, and the Center for Constitutional Rights have all criticized the U.S. action. A UN spokesman called the sanctions “a dangerous precedent” and “unacceptable.” It is to be noted that the U.S. withdrew from the Human Rights Council in February.

The timing of the sanctions, coinciding with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington and his facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), has further fueled the controversy. Albanese herself criticized the U.S. for welcoming Netanyahu despite the ICC warrant. The U.S. does not recognize the ICC.

As the situation unfolds, the international community remains divided on the U.S. action, with concerns mounting over its potential impact on the independence and effectiveness of UN human rights mechanisms. The situation underscores the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the challenges in finding a peaceful resolution.

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