US Sanctions UN Expert Francesca Albanese Over Criticism of Israel's Actions in Gaza
Francesca Albanese, a UN rapporteur, faces US sanctions for her outspoken criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and alleged antisemitism.
Overview
- Francesca Albanese, a UN expert, has been sanctioned by the US for her critical views on Israel's actions in Gaza, including allegations of genocide.
- The sanctions restrict Albanese's travel to the US and freeze her assets, impacting her ability to advocate for Palestinian human rights.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited antisemitism and support for terrorism as reasons for the sanctions against Albanese.
- Israeli officials welcomed the sanctions, viewing them as a necessary response to perceived anti-Israel bias within the UN.
- UN high commissioner Volker Türk has called for a prompt reversal of the sanctions imposed on Albanese, emphasizing the importance of human rights advocacy.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the U.S. sanctions against Francesca Albanese as politically motivated, emphasizing her role as a human rights investigator. They highlight her criticisms of Israel and the implications of the sanctions on her mission, suggesting a bias against dissenting voices in international human rights discourse.
Albanese said she believed the sanctions were calculated to weaken her mission.
Articles (12)
Center (2)
"…The U.S. sanctioned a U.N. special rapporteur for her work on human rights abuses in Palestinian territories, which she claims is an attempt to undermine her mission."
ABC News·1d·"…The move is likely to provoke a fierce backlash from those who argue for accountability over the civilian death toll from Israel's military offensive in Gaza."
BBC News·2d·FAQ
Francesca Albanese is an Italian legal scholar and human rights expert who was appointed as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 in May 2022.
The US imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese due to her outspoken criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, allegations of antisemitism, and accusations of supporting terrorism.
The sanctions restrict Albanese's travel to the US and freeze her assets, which impacts her ability to advocate for Palestinian human rights effectively.
Israeli officials welcomed the sanctions as a necessary response to perceived anti-Israel bias within the UN. In contrast, UN High Commissioner Volker Türk called for a prompt reversal of the sanctions, emphasizing the importance of human rights advocacy.
Albanese holds a law degree from the University of Pisa and a Master of Laws in human rights from SOAS University of London. She has worked for a decade as a human rights expert for the UN, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees.
History
- 2d
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