WASHINGTON D.C. — The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, citing her recent "Gaza genocide report" and accusing her of conducting "political and economic warfare" against the United States and Israel. The move, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks a significant escalation in the U.S.'s efforts to counter international criticism of Israel's ongoing military actions in the Gaza Strip.
The sanctions against Albanese, an independent investigator appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, follow intense pressure from the U.S. and Israel for her removal from her post. Secretary Rubio, in a social media post, stated, "Albanese's campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated. We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense." He added that the U.S. would "continue to take whatever actions we deem necessary to respond to lawfare and protect our sovereignty and that of our allies." The sanctions are understood to include travel and visa bans, and potentially asset freezes.
Albanese's controversial report, titled "From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide," was released on July 1, 2025. It meticulously detailed how certain corporate entities, including major U.S. tech giants like Microsoft, Alphabet (Google's parent company), and Amazon, are allegedly aiding Israel's occupation and military operations in Gaza, asserting that "companies are no longer merely implicated in occupation – they may be embedded in an economy of genocide." The report argues that the economic interests derived from the conflict are a driving force behind the continued violence and destruction in the Palestinian territories. Albanese also supported the International Criminal Court's (ICC) recent arrest warrants against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes.
The decision to sanction Albanese has drawn swift and sharp condemnation from human rights organizations and international bodies. Liz Evenson, International Justice Director at Human Rights Watch, called the U.S. action "all about silencing a UN expert for doing her job – speaking truth about Israeli violations against Palestinians and calling on governments and corporations not to be complicit." She further accused the U.S. government of "working to dismantle the norms and institutions on which survivors of grave abuses rely." The UN Human Rights Office expressed deep concern, reiterating that Special Rapporteurs serve independently and their work is crucial for monitoring human rights globally.
Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva strongly refuted Albanese's allegations, labeling her report "legally groundless, defamatory, and a flagrant abuse of her office," and accusing her of "whitewashing Hamas atrocities." Israeli officials and their allies have long accused Albanese of virulent antisemitism and anti-Israel bias, assertions she has consistently denied, stating her criticism is directed at Israeli policies, not Jewish people.
The sanctions against Albanese are seen by many as a culmination of a broader Trump administration strategy to exert pressure on international bodies and individuals perceived as critical of Israel. This aligns with past actions, including sanctions imposed by President Trump on top ICC officials in his previous term. The move also comes amidst Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, where discussions about the Gaza conflict and regional security were central.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, with alarming death tolls and widespread displacement, the U.S. decision to target a UN human rights expert has intensified the debate over accountability and human rights in the conflict, further isolating Washington from a significant portion of the international community on this issue.
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