US Imposes Sanctions on UN Official Francesca Albanese Over ICC Actions and Anti-Israel Stance

In a significant move, the United States has announced sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Wednesday that the sanctions were imposed due to Albanese’s “illegitimate and shameful efforts” to prompt International Criminal Court (ICC) action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.

This announcement aligns with the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to penalize entities and individuals investigating alleged crimes by Israel, particularly as the conflict in Gaza persists. The sanctions against Albanese are being applied under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in February, which authorized punitive measures against the ICC.

Rubio emphasized that neither the US nor Israel are parties to the treaty establishing the ICC, asserting that Albanese’s actions constitute a “gross infringement on the sovereignty of both countries.” He accused Albanese of antisemitism, expressing “support of terrorism, and open contempt for the United States, Israel, and the West,” citing her recommendation for the ICC to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which the ICC did in November 2024.

The US had previously opposed the renewal of Albanese’s mandate as special rapporteur and called for her removal. Rubio further stated that Albanese had sent “threatening letters” to numerous global entities, including major American companies, making “extreme and unfounded accusations” and recommending ICC investigations. He affirmed that the US “will not tolerate these campaigns of political and economic warfare, which threaten our national interests and sovereignty.”

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