UN Expert Francesca Albanese Faces Sanctions from Trump Administration Over Controversial Comments on Gaza
Francesca Albanese, a UN expert and special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has recently been sanctioned by the Trump Administration. This action follows her remarks during an interview with Sky News, where she claimed that multiple large US corporations are complicit in what she termed an "economy of genocide" in Gaza.
In her conversation on The World with Yalda Hakim, Albanese highlighted that over 60 companies are entangled in the "economy of occupation," which she argues facilitates the displacement of Palestinians by Israeli settlers and infrastructure. Her statements came shortly after the release of her report on July 1, where she identified several prominent US firms across various sectors, including finance, technology, and defense, that she believes are involved in these practices.
Albanese has been an outspoken advocate for the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes in Gaza. It’s important to note that arrest warrants have also been issued for leaders of Hamas.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions against Albanese, condemning her "illegitimate and shameful efforts" to incite ICC actions against US and Israeli officials and corporations. He stated, "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."
The specific ramifications of these sanctions remain unclear, particularly regarding Albanese’s potential travel to the US under diplomatic credentials. In response to the sanctions, she expressed her unwavering commitment to justice in a post on X, without directly addressing the sanctions. Albanese later referred to the US actions as "mafia-style intimidation techniques" in a text to Al Jazeera.
Jurg Lauber, president of the UN Human Rights Council, expressed his disappointment over the US decision, emphasizing the vital role special rapporteurs play in promoting and protecting human rights globally. He called on all UN member states to cooperate fully with these experts and to avoid any intimidation or reprisals against them.
Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer, has long criticized the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), characterizing their operations in Gaza following the October 7 attacks as "genocide." The Israeli government has categorically rejected these accusations. In her interview, she described Israel’s military actions as an "assault against civilians," highlighting the psychological toll on both Israeli soldiers and Gazan youth involved in the conflict.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza escalated dramatically after Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in nearly 1,200 fatalities. Since then, estimates suggest that around 60,000 lives have been lost in Gaza, a figure that Israel disputes, citing differing accounts from Hamas.
As the situation unfolds, Albanese’s stance and the implications of her sanctions will continue to attract attention in the context of international human rights advocacy and geopolitical tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
