UN official Francesca Albanese urges nations to cut all ties with Israel, drawing global condemnation and U.S. sanctions over her controversial rhetoric and alleged antisemitism.
In a highly controversial address, United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese on Tuesday renewed her call for sweeping global sanctions against Israel, claiming the country is committing “genocide” in Gaza. Speaking at an international conference attended by representatives from 30 countries—including China, Ireland, Spain, Colombia, and South Africa—Albanese urged governments to sever all diplomatic and economic relations with Israel, including actions from the private sector.
“The Israeli economy is structured to sustain an occupation that has turned genocidal,” she said, calling on states to “immediately review and suspend all ties with the State of Israel.”
Albanese, whose tenure has been repeatedly criticized for promoting anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric, remains a deeply polarizing figure at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Despite mounting global scrutiny, the UNHRC recently renewed her mandate for another three years.
Israel rejected the genocide allegations outright, calling them “an antisemitic blood libel.” Israeli officials have consistently denounced Albanese’s characterizations as not only inflammatory but dangerous—particularly in light of her past remarks comparing Israel to Nazi Germany and likening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.
Her controversial record stretches back to 2022, when she posted on social media that the “Jewish lobby” controls U.S. politics—a claim widely condemned as antisemitic. Though Albanese dismissed the remarks as misunderstood, criticism of her statements has only intensified, especially following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terror attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 250 hostages. She has since described the attack as needing “context,” suggesting it was a response to Israeli “aggression.”
In a strong rebuke, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week designated Albanese as a “specially designated national,” imposing sanctions that prohibit all American individuals and businesses from engaging with her. Rubio said she had “spewed unabashed antisemitism,” supported terrorism, and undermined Western democratic values. He cited her appeal to the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders as “proof of her unfitness for any role within the UN.”
The two-day event co-hosted by Colombia and South Africa has been criticized by pro-Israel groups as a platform for legitimizing fringe positions under the guise of human rights advocacy. With Albanese’s rhetoric growing more extreme, and her calls for total disengagement from Israel gaining traction among some governments, observers warn that the UN risks deepening global polarization and undermining its credibility in conflict resolution.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, Albanese’s actions are being seen not only as a flashpoint in international diplomacy but also as a test of how far the UN is willing to go in accommodating officials accused of systemic bias.
