Washington (TDI): The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on United Nations expert Francesca Albanese because of her documentation of Israel’s genocide and violence against Palestinians during its war on Gaza.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the penalties, accusing UN expert Albanese of engaging in “a campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel.”
The false charge
Israel and its supporters have been trying for so long to remove UN expert Francesca Albanese from her position. Albanese appeared on social media to dismiss US sanctions and said that she will continue doing her work.
The UN expert wrote in a message, “No comment on mafia-style intimidation techniques, Busy reminding member states of their obligations to stop and punish genocide. And those who profit from it.”
Earlier on Wednesday, she also called out the European countries for allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Gaza, to use their airspace.
Albanese wrote in a social media post, “Italian, French, and Greek citizens deserve to know that every political action violating the legal order weakens and endangers all of them. And all of us.”
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Marco Rubio mentioned Albanese’s push for the prosecution of Israeli officials as the legal basis behind sanctions.
Earlier in February, Trump had issued an executive order for penalties for the ICC officials who are “targeting” Israel, and last month US sanctioned four ICC judges.
Rubio also accused Albanese of anti-semitism. He said that the bias has been apparent across the span of her career, which includes recommending that the ICC, without a legitimate basis, issue arrest warrants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
“We will not tolerate these campaigns of political and economic warfare, which threaten our national interests and sovereignty,” Rubio said. He referred to the recent reports by Albanese that highlighted the role of international companies, including US firms in the Israeli assault on Gaza, which she describes as genocide.
All for Albanese
Several people came in support of Albanese, calling the US actions “devastating”. The secretary general of Amnesty International, Dr. Agnès Callamard, said she was “dismayed” by the US move.
“We recall that Special Rapporteurs are independent experts. They are not appointed to please governments or to be popular but to deliver their mandate,” she wrote on X.
Callamard also mentioned that Albanese is working tirelessly to document and report on Israel’s unlawful occupation, apartheid, and genocide, based on international law, and she also urged the governments to do everything in their power to protect Albanese, protect the work and independence of special rapporteurs.
An IR student whose interest lies in diplomacy and current affairs and a part time debater
