The United States has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, citing her efforts to prompt International Criminal Court (ICC) action against US and Israeli officials.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions, stating, “Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt ICC action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.”
Rubio accused Albanese of waging a “campaign of political and economic warfare” against both countries, saying these actions “will no longer be tolerated.”
The sanctions follow Albanese’s report identifying corporations allegedly facilitating Israeli occupation on Palestinian lands, including Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Palantir, which provide military hardware, surveillance technology, and infrastructure supporting the illegal occupation.
Albanese has been a vocal critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, accusing it of waging a “genocidal campaign” and calling for an arms embargo and corporate accountability ² ³.
Human rights groups have condemned the US move, labeling it “rogue state behavior” and intimidation.
Amnesty International emphasized that special rapporteurs must be supported and protected, with Secretary General Agnes Callamard stating that governments should mitigate and block the effects of sanctions to safeguard the independence of UN experts.