The U.S. government announced on Wednesday that it has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, citing her efforts to involve American and Israeli nationals in investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Albanese, an Italian legal expert who monitors human rights conditions in Gaza and the West Bank, has drawn international attention for her strong condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. In a recent report, she called on the ICC to prosecute executives of U.S.-based companies she alleges are profiting from the conflict. She has also stated that there is credible legal basis to define Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide—an accusation Israel and the United States firmly reject.
In a statement released Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Albanese of “directly engaging” with the ICC to pursue the arrest or prosecution of U.S. and Israeli citizens, describing her actions as driven by “unabashed antisemitism.” The U.S. alleges that her efforts represent a misuse of international legal mechanisms to target American and allied officials.
Albanese responded publicly on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “On this day more than ever: I stand firmly and convincingly on the side of justice, as I have always done. I come from a country with a tradition of illustrious legal scholars, talented lawyers, and courageous judges who have defended justice at great cost and often with their own life. I intend to honor that tradition.”
The United Nations Human Rights Council, which oversees Albanese’s role, has not yet issued a response to the sanctions. It remains unclear how the punitive measures will affect her work moving forward.
The decision comes amid growing tensions over the ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Israel-Gaza conflict. In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in connection with their roles in the war, which erupted after Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Those attacks killed around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and led to the capture of approximately 250 hostages taken to Gaza.
In the ensuing Israeli military campaign, over 57,000 Palestinians have been reported killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians but claims most of the dead are women and children.
Albanese’s outspoken criticism of Israel has long drawn sharp rebuke from both U.S. and Israeli officials, who accuse her of bias. The Biden administration previously labeled her comments antisemitic and questioned her fitness for the role. Israel officially barred her entry into the country earlier this year.
These sanctions also align with broader actions taken by the Trump administration, which has actively opposed the ICC’s investigations into Israel. In February, the administration imposed similar sanctions on ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan after the court issued warrants for Israeli leaders. As a result, Khan reportedly lost access to basic services like email and banking. He also now risks arrest if he enters U.S. territory.
Neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the ICC, and both governments argue the court lacks jurisdiction over their citizens. The U.S. has maintained that the ICC cannot legally pursue individuals from nonmember states, especially when investigations appear to involve political motivations.
“The United States will continue to take whatever actions we deem necessary to respond to lawfare, to check and prevent illegitimate ICC overreach and abuse of power, and to protect our sovereignty and that of our allies,” Secretary Rubio said in his statement.
The move underscores the deepening rift between Washington and international institutions investigating the Israel-Gaza conflict and signals that further diplomatic tensions may be on the horizon.
