U.S. Sanctions UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese Over ICC Push Against American, Israeli Officials.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday the imposition of sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, citing her attempts to prompt International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings against U.S. and Israeli officials and private entities.
“Today, I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt ICC action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives,” Rubio said in a statement.
He further characterized Albanese’s actions as a “campaign of political and economic warfare” and affirmed the U.S. commitment to defending its sovereignty and that of its allies:
“We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense. The United States will continue to take whatever actions we deem necessary to respond to lawfare and protect our sovereignty and that of our allies.”
Israeli Response and Albanese’s Record
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed the U.S. move, calling it “a clear message” to the international community, and added, “Time for the UN to pay attention!”
Albanese has long been a controversial figure. In 2022, her credibility was called into question after antisemitic comments surfaced on social media, including a claim that the “Jewish lobby” controls U.S. policy.
She has also faced criticism for comments regarding the October 7 Hamas attacks, in which 251 people were kidnapped, including infants and children. In December 2023, Albanese labeled international demands for the hostages’ release as “unacceptable,” while she called for the release of a Gaza hospital director arrested on suspicion of Hamas leadership.
Albanese later published a book titled J’Accuse, controversially borrowing the name of Émile Zola’s famous defense of Alfred Dreyfus, to shift blame from Hamas to Israel for the massacre. She has consistently denied that Israel has a right to self-defense in the aftermath of October 7.
Diplomatic Implications
The move by Secretary Rubio marks a rare direct sanction against a sitting UN official, signaling deepening U.S. frustration with what it views as biased international mechanisms targeting itself and key allies.
The sanctions are expected to include travel restrictions, asset freezes, and potentially broader legal ramifications for entities engaging with Albanese in an official capacity.
The decision may also place further strain on U.S.–UN relations, already under pressure due to increasing scrutiny of the UN Human Rights Council’s perceived lack of impartiality in Middle East affairs.
