In line with its contempt with international law, on July 9, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories. The official statement by US. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused her of “illegitimate and shameful efforts” to encourage the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute US and Israeli figures.
The sanctions include being designated as a “specially designated national” under Executive Order 14203, freezing of any US assets, barring US persons or companies from dealing with her and visa bans, preventing her and her immediate family from entering the US.
This marks the first time a UN Special Rapporteur has faced US sanctions.
Albanese has condemned the move as “obscene” and has vowed to continue her mandate unimpeded. Her supporters, including Amnesty International and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, have strongly condemned the sanctions, calling them a dangerous threat to international legal norms and independent human rights reporting.
This signals that Albanese is making an international impact on the narratives related to genocide in Gaza.
Francesca Albanese sanctioned by US
United States imposed sanctions on Francesca Paola Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories
Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused her of “illegitimate and shameful efforts” to encourage the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute US and Israeli figures.