Thu Jul 10 09:13:57 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The United States government has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, due to her criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Albanese has described these actions as potential acts of genocide and violations of international law, citing mass killings and destruction of civilian infrastructure. She has also urged the international community to sanction Israel and investigate potential war crimes at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The sanctions freeze her assets under US jurisdiction. Supporters of Israel have criticized Albanese’s reports as biased and baseless, while the US government accuses her of engaging in political and economic warfare against Israel.
**News Article:**
**U.S. Sanctions UN Human Rights Rapporteur Over Israel Criticism**
*Washington D.C. -* The United States government announced sanctions today against Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The move comes in response to Albanese’s repeated and vocal criticism of Israel’s military conduct in Gaza.
Albanese, who was appointed to the UN role in 2022, has authored reports accusing Israel of potential “acts of genocide” and violations of international law during its military operations. Her reports to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2024 and June 2025 described mass killings, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the creation of conditions that could lead to the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza. She has also urged the international community to impose sanctions on Israel, suspend military trade, and support investigations at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The sanctions include restrictions on Albanese’s financial assets under US jurisdiction. Republican Senator Marco Rubio accused Albanese of engaging in “political and economic warfare” against both the US and Israel. Former Trump administration officials had previously called for her removal, alleging antisemitism and ties to terrorism.
Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva has strongly condemned Albanese’s reports as “legally groundless, defamatory, and a flagrant abuse of her office,” further stating that her reports have “whitewashed Hamas atrocities.” UN Special Rapporteurs operate independently and do not formally represent the United Nations, but their findings and recommendations are presented to the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly.
The sanctions against Albanese are likely to further inflame tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and raise questions about the independence of UN human rights observers. The State Department has yet to release a formal statement detailing the specifics of the sanctions, but confirmed their implementation earlier today.
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