The United Nations is responding to actions taken by the Trump administration, which recently imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories.
Stefan Dujarric, spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, commented on Thursday, stating that these sanctions—targeting Albanese, who has been vocal about her criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza—set a “dangerous precedent.” He emphasized that the allegations made by Albanese, which include accusations of genocide, are consistently denied by Israel.
“Francesca Albanese, like all Special UN Human Rights Rapporteurs, is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council,” Dujarric explained. He noted that the Special Rapporteur reports directly to the Human Rights Council rather than the Secretary-General, meaning they do not have authority over the Secretary-General’s functions.
Dujarric further expressed that while member states can express differing views on the Special Rapporteur’s reports, they should also participate in the UN’s human rights mechanisms. He stated that imposing unilateral sanctions on UN officials or experts is not acceptable.
The State Department was contacted for further comments regarding this issue.
Senator Marco Rubio announced the sanctions against Albanese, describing them as a necessary response to what he called a “shameful attempt” to provoke the International Criminal Court against U.S. and Israeli officials. He declared that such actions promoting political and economic conflict would no longer be tolerated, asserting the U.S.’s commitment to defending its allies.
The U.S. mission to the UN previously called for Albanese’s removal and opposed her recent reappointment to another three-year term.
These sanctions came shortly after Albanese released a significant report examining the corporate entities implicated in supporting Israeli colonial projects in occupied territories, claiming over 60 companies are backing Israel in its conflict with Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S.
Israeli missions have dismissed her findings, labeling them as “legally unfounded” and an affront to human dignity.
In an interview, Albanese remarked that sanctions are effective only if people fear them. She reiterated her stance, stating, “The reason these sanctions are being imposed is the pursuit of justice.” She confirmed her critical view of Israel, which she believes has engaged in genocide and various war crimes.
