Trump Administration Sanctions UN Expert Francesca Albanese

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Washington D.C. _ In a move that escalates tensions around the International Criminal Court (ICC) and criticism of Israel, the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, citing her support for ICC arrest warrants and what officials called “unabashed antisemitism.”

The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s high-profile visit to Washington, further cementing U.S. alignment with Israeli interests amid growing international scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

According to the U.S. State Department, the sanctions include freezing any assets Ms. Albanese holds in the United States and a travel ban for her and her immediate family. The decision follows her outspoken advocacy for legal accountability over Israel’s military campaign and settlement activities, which she has called “apartheid” and “genocide.”

Rubio accused the Italian legal expert of weaponizing international law against Israel and American interests:

“Ms. Albanese has promoted terrorism, demonized Israel and the U.S., and is leading a campaign of legal intimidation against global corporations tied to Israel’s defense and infrastructure.”

He referred to her recent letters addressed to international companies — including major U.S. firms in defense, finance, and tech — warning of their alleged complicity in war crimes under international law.

Responding on social media, Albanese said:

> “Today, more than ever, I stand on the side of justice. I proudly carry Italy’s legacy of legal scholarship and moral courage.”

In her latest UN report, she accused several companies of facilitating or benefiting from “apartheid, illegal occupation, and genocide” in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The sanctions announcement comes months after President Trump signed an executive order targeting the International Criminal Court, which has issued war crimes arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and top Hamas leaders. The ICC charges include using starvation as a method of warfare.

Although the U.S. and Israel are not members of the ICC, the warrants apply to 125 member states, including Australia, which are legally obligated to detain any indicted individuals upon entry.

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