The United Nations has expressed strong opposition to sanctions imposed by the United States against Francesca Albanese, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories. The move has sparked concern among human rights advocates and UN officials, who warn it sets a dangerous precedent.
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US Sanctions Prompt Global Reactions
Francesca Albanese, an Italian lawyer appointed by the 47-member UN Human Rights Council, has long criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Her most recent report accused over 60 companies, including some based in the United States, of supporting Israeli settlements in the West Bank and military actions in Gaza.
In response, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Albanese’s name would be added to the list of sanctioned individuals. The US claims her work encourages what it considers unlawful prosecutions of Israeli officials at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
UN Officials Urge Reversal of Measures
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged Washington to reconsider its decision, stating that even when disagreements arise, “member states must engage constructively rather than resort to punitive measures.”
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Jürg Lauber, Switzerland’s permanent representative to the UN and current rotating president of the Human Rights Council, echoed these concerns. He called on all member states to refrain from intimidating or retaliating against UN-appointed experts.
Despite the sanctions, Albanese remained defiant. Speaking at a press conference in Ljubljana, she declared, “I will continue doing what I have to do.”
Concerns of Broader Impact
Other UN experts also voiced alarm. Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, warned that the US action could inspire similar measures by other countries.
“This is completely unacceptable and opens the door for any government to do the same,” she told Reuters. “It is an attack on the UN system as a whole. Member states must stand up and denounce it.”
Russia, for its part, has rejected Katzarova’s mandate and denied her entry, though it has not publicly imposed sanctions on her.
US and Israel Under Legal Scrutiny
The United States has already sanctioned officials from the ICC, which recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice is reviewing a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.
Israel has denied all allegations of war crimes or genocide during its ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which began after a deadly Hamas-led attack on Israeli territory in October 2023.
Human Rights Groups Respond
Liz Emerson of Human Rights Watch criticized the US move, stating, “The United States is working to dismantle the rules and institutions survivors of serious violations rely on.”
Former Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth described the sanctions as an effort to block accountability for “Israeli war crimes and genocide in Gaza.”
The United States, once an active participant in the UN Human Rights Council, withdrew from the body during Donald Trump’s presidency, claiming it was biased against Israel.
