Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for Palestinian territories, recently expressed concern in an interview about the US sanctions imposed on her. She described these sanctions as “harmful” and likely to have a significant effect on her life.
“Being on the US list of sanctioned individuals is very serious,” Albanese remarked in a conversation with the Associated Press.
As an Italian jurist investigating human rights violations in Palestinian areas, she has frequently accused Israel of committing “genocide” in its conflict with Hamas. Israel has continually denied these charges.
UN officials have cautioned that using sanctions in a “political manner” can be “harmful and dangerous.”
“My daughter is American, and I live in the US, where I have some assets. So it’s clear this will affect me. What can I do? I’ve been sincere in my work, and I believe my commitment to justice outweighs my personal concerns,” she stated.
Earlier this month, the administration under President Trump imposed sanctions on Albanese. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that her actions amount to a “political and economic warfare campaign,” which he deemed “unacceptable.”
Albanese had recently published an extensive report examining the systems that support Israeli colonial activities and the movement of Palestinians in the occupied territories.
In her report, she proposed sanctions against Israel and suggested a complete arms embargo. Israeli officials labeled the findings as “legally unfounded” and criticized her conduct in office.
Despite facing accusations of anti-Semitism, Albanese was reappointed for another three-year term earlier this year, even amidst calls for her dismissal, particularly from the US.
The Israeli military’s operations in Gaza were triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and around 250 hostages taken. In response, Israeli forces have since killed over 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, a figure that does not differentiate between militants and civilians.
“It’s shocking. I can’t find words to adequately describe the situation for the Palestinians,” Albanese said.
