The United States imposed sanctions against UN rapporteur on Palestinian rights Francesca Albanese, accusing her of “political and economic warfare” against the US and Israel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the step against Albanese, an outspoken critic of Israel who has been accused of antisemitic and pro-terror rhetoric, was taken in light of “her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt International Criminal Court action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.”
“Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated. We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense,” Rubio tweeted.
He added that the US “will continue to take whatever actions we deem necessary to respond to lawfare and protect our sovereignty and that of our allies.”
Recently, the Trump administration penned a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging him to remove Albanese from her post, alleging “virulent antisemitism and support for terrorism.”
Albanese, an Italian national, regularly accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza and has said that the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas must be put in a “context of decades of oppression imposed on the Palestinians.” She has come under harsh criticism from both the Biden and Trump administrations.
In recent weeks, she has issued a series of letters urging other countries to pressure Israel — including through sanctions — to end its war against Hamas in Gaza.
