U.S. Sanctions U.N. Investigator Francesca Albanese Over Gaza Conflict Reports
A new wave of tensions has emerged as the Trump administration announced sanctions against Francesca Albanese, a U.N. investigator probing human rights issues in the Palestinian territories. This move aims to reprimand Albanese for her critical stance on Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The sanctions coincide with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where discussions with President Donald Trump are underway concerning the ongoing conflict and broader regional issues. The specifics of how these sanctions will affect Albanese’s work or her ability to travel to the U.S. remain unclear.
Albanese, an Italian lawyer focused on human rights, has been outspoken in her allegations of Israeli actions amounting to “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza, claims both Israel and the U.S. firmly reject.
The U.S. had previously stayed silent on Albanese due to its non-participation in recent Human Rights Council sessions, following its withdrawal from the council earlier in the year.
Albanese’s Calls for International Pressure on Israel
In recent communications, Albanese has urged international entities to apply pressure on Israel, including through sanctions, to cease its military actions in Gaza. She has also endorsed the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Netanyahu, over alleged war crimes.
Albanese’s reports have implicated several major U.S. corporations, accusing them of supporting what she terms Israel’s occupation and military endeavors in Gaza.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded firmly, stating on social media, “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.”
Liz Evenson from Human Rights Watch criticized the sanctions, suggesting they aim to “silence a U.N. expert for doing her job.” She emphasized the need for U.N. member countries to resist U.S. attempts to obstruct justice for serious crimes.
Albanese’s report dated July 1 highlights Western defense firms supplying arms to Israel and companies involved in demolishing Palestinian properties.
Israel Denounces Albanese’s Allegations
Israel’s mission in Geneva has dismissed Albanese’s report as “legally groundless” and accused her of overlooking atrocities by Hamas. While Albanese holds no official U.N. authority, her reports serve to scrutinize countries’ human rights practices.
U.S. and Israeli officials have criticized Albanese, with the U.S. mission calling for her removal over alleged anti-Semitic and anti-Israel biases.
Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, welcomed the U.S. sanctions, accusing Albanese of crossing the line from advocacy to political warfare.
Efforts to Curb Criticism of Israel’s Gaza Strategy
The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. campaign to counteract criticism of Israel’s Gaza conflict management. This year, the administration has targeted U.S. university affiliates participating in pro-Palestinian activities.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas’s attack on Israel, has led to significant casualties on both sides. Israel’s response has resulted in over 57,000 Palestinian deaths, as per Gaza’s Health Ministry, with a substantial number being women and children.
Amid the conflict, humanitarian conditions have deteriorated, leaving many in Gaza without the necessary medical care, according to aid workers.
In a recent social media post, Albanese stated, “We must stop this genocide, whose short-term goal is completing the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, while also profiteering from the killing machine devised to perform it. No one is safe until everyone is safe.”
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