The Trump administration has sanctioned Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, over her support for the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigations into alleged U.S. and Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Why It Matters?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Albanese of engaging with the ICC to prosecute Americans and Israelis, calling her “unfit” for her UN role.
The sanctions block her U.S. assets and bar her from entering the country.
The Bigger Picture…
This move comes as part of a broader U.S. campaign against the ICC, which previously issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over Gaza.
The sanctions coincide with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.
Why Albanese Was Targeted?
Albanese recently urged global companies to cut ties with Israel, warning of complicity in war crimes. Rubio claimed she made “threatening” accusations against U.S. firms and showed “contempt” for America, Israel, and the West.
The Human Toll…
Since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 in Israel, the Israeli offensive has killed over 57,000 in Gaza.
The region faces mass displacement, infrastructure collapse, and humanitarian disaster.
Albanese has dismissed past allegations as politically motivated attempts to silence criticism of Israeli policy.