The Trump administration has sanctioned the United Nations Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, citing a political “war” against Israel.
“Today, I’m placing sanctions on the UN Human Rights Council. Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese is leading a misguided and disgraceful push to alert the International Criminal Court about us and Israeli officials and enterprises,” I mentioned in a statement on X.
“Albanese’s campaign of political and economic hostility towards the United States and Israel will no longer be accepted. We will consistently support our allies’ right to self-defense.”
The administration has called for Albanese’s dismissal, as she has been vocal against Israel regarding its actions in Gaza, where she has accused the Jewish state of genocide—claims Israel firmly denies.
“Recently, Albanese has intensified years of severe anti-Semitism and bias against Israel by sending alarming communications to numerous global entities, including major American corporations,” the US mission to the United Nations stated earlier this month.
Former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz praised Rubio and Trump for their “moral clarity,” asserting accountability for what he termed Albanese’s serial anti-Semitism.
“We are truly thankful for the strong leadership that aims to end the era of hypocritical anti-Israel impunity at the UN,” he stated on X.
Albanese recently released a substantial report that investigated “corporate forces that uphold the colonial project of Israeli settlers and the resulting Palestinian displacement in occupied territories.” In this, she identified over 60 companies said to be supporting Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Israeli diplomats have described the report as “legally unfounded and a significant misuse of her position.”
It remains uncertain how far-reaching the sanctions against Albanese will be, though she is likely to face travel restrictions to the US.
A seasoned Italian jurist, Albanese was reappointed for another three-year term earlier this year despite American opposition.
In February, Trump granted approval concerning the International Criminal Court’s actions to promote war crime cases against figures like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu last November, alleging misuse of hunger as a tactic during the Gaza conflict. The Israeli government has condemned these ICC pursuits.
Rubio remarked on Wednesday that the United States will undertake “any necessary action to uphold the law and safeguard our sovereignty and that of our allies.”
Albanese has been contacted for her comments.
