The U.S. decision to impose sanctions on a United Nations Special Rapporteur for her criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza has been called a “dangerous precedent” by the UN and top UN Human Rights Council officials. The comments followed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement that Francesca Albanese, a “Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in occupied Palestinian Territories since 1967”, would face restrictions as a result of her engagement with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC has already been sanctioned by U.S. President Donald Trump in an executive order, shortly after he took office. While the scope of the sanctions are still unclear, they are understood to include travel and visa bans, and possible asset freezes for Ms. Albanese, who has drawn American ire with a report in June that urged international organisations to prosecute corporate entities and multinationals whose work helps fund the war. Ms. Albanese has frequently accused Israel of conducting the “cruellest genocide” in Gaza, as well as its takeover of the Gaza Strip. She has also been calling for scrutiny of the “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation”, a U.S.-Israeli NGO. The U.S. actions have no doubt been spurred by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest visit to Washington, where he announced that his government would nominate Mr. Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Amidst the rising death toll in Gaza and no ceasefire or deal for the return of Israeli hostages in sight, Washington’s focus on a UN official is absurd and outrageous. Ms. Albanese’s work is mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, and the U.S. actions undermine the global multilateral world order by calling those actions criminal. It is irrational to hold her responsible for the warrants and orders issued by the ICC and the International Court of Justice, which have heard testimonies from representatives of at least 40 states and international organisations on petitions calling for action against Israel. Mr. Rubio’s contention, that Ms. Albanese should be sanctioned for engaging with the ICC to prosecute U.S. and Israeli nationals “without the consent of those two countries”, is not legally valid. Further, his allegations that she “has spewed unabashed antisemitism [and] expressed support for terrorism” are not borne out by facts. As global outrage over Israel’s killing of Palestinians, and the U.S. support for those actions, grows louder, as well as the BRICS summit condemnation this week, that India too joined, it is time for the U.S. to look in the mirror. The need is to effect an immediate ceasefire, and not in bringing the considerable might of the most powerful country to bear over one individual, in order to silence her voice.
Published – July 12, 2025 12:20 am IST