The Trump administration is imposing sanctions on the UN Human Rights Council particular rapporteur Francesca Albanese, an outspoken critic of Israel’s army offensive in Gaza.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio linked the transfer to her help for the Worldwide Felony Courtroom (ICC), a few of whose judges have already been sanctioned by the US.
Rubio stated the US was sanctioning Albanese for immediately participating with the ICC in its efforts to prosecute American or Israeli nationals, accusing her of being unfit for service as a UN Particular Rapporteur.
The sanctions are more likely to forestall Albanese from travelling to the US and would block any property she has within the nation.
In a publish on X, Albanese didn’t immediately deal with the sanctions, however wrote: “[O]n today greater than ever: I stand firmly and convincingly on the facet of justice, as I’ve at all times accomplished.”
The message, by which the Italy-born particular rapporteur reposted a thread of help for ICC, stated she got here from the courtroom’s founding nation, the place attorneys and judges had “defended justice at nice value and sometimes with their very own life”.
“I intend to honor that custom,” she added within the publish.
Albanese declined to remark to the BBC, however was quoted by Al Jazeera as describing the sanctions as “mafia fashion intimidation methods”.
It’s the newest escalation by the Trump administration because it wages a marketing campaign towards the ICC, having already sanctioned 4 of its judges.
The US took the motion after the courtroom final 12 months issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his then-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged battle crimes in Gaza, accusations they reject.
Rubio additionally accused Albanese of getting “spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed help for terrorism, and open contempt for america, Israel, and the West”.
The transfer is more likely to provoke a fierce backlash from those that argue for accountability over the civilian demise toll from Israel’s army offensive in Gaza.
The particular rapporteur has lengthy argued that Western governments aren’t doing sufficient to help the rights of Palestinians within the occupied Palestinian territories.
Her outspoken stance has attracted vital help amongst those that accuse Israeli and US leaders of weaponising accusations of antisemitism to be able to silence scrutiny of their insurance policies.
Her critics have pointed to language used previously by Albanese, together with a 2014 remark when she urged the “Jewish foyer” was influencing US authorities selections when it got here to Israel and the Palestinians.
She is since reported to have stated she regretted the comment, however rejected claims it was antisemitic.
The top of Amnesty Worldwide and former UN Particular Rapporteur Agnes Callamard stated she was dismayed by the choice to sanction Albanese.
“Governments world wide and all actors who consider within the rule-based order and worldwide legislation should do every part of their energy to mitigate and block the impact of the sanctions towards Francesca Albanese,” she stated.
Rubio stated Albanese had proven contempt for the US by writing “threatening letters” to a number of US firms, making what he referred to as unfounded accusations and recommending the ICC pursue prosecutions of the businesses and their executives.
“We won’t tolerate these campaigns of political and financial warfare, which threaten our nationwide pursuits and sovereignty,” Rubio stated.
Earlier this month Albanese referred to as on dozens of multinational firms to cease doing enterprise with Israel, warning them they risked being complicit in battle crimes in Gaza and the occupied West Financial institution.
She stated the businesses “profited from the Israeli financial system of unlawful occupation, apartheid, and now genocide” within the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel rejected her report as “groundless”, saying it could “be a part of the dustbin of historical past”.
Albanese has criticised Donald Trump’s plan, introduced in February, to take over the Gaza Strip and displace its residents elsewhere.
“It is illegal, immoral and… fully irresponsible as a result of it’s going to make the regional disaster even worse,” she stated in February.
The timing of the sanctions announcement is notable with Netanyahu at present in Washington, the place he obtained an prolonged honour cordon on the Pentagon on Wednesday.
Albanese has beforehand rejected comparable claims towards her, telling the BBC in October: “I do not take these remarks and the defamation they carry calmly, however on the identical time, I do know this isn’t about me, as my predecessors knew that it was not about them.
“I additionally know these member states [making accusations of antisemitism] have accomplished completely nothing to abide by worldwide legislation.”
Her workplace has been approached for remark.
Some 125 nations are events to the Rome Statute that established the ICC and are protected by it, in addition to sure by their membership to uphold the courtroom’s selections.
The US, like Israel, just isn’t a member of the courtroom.
It has sided with Israel, its staunch ally, which it has armed all through the Gaza battle, towards the Netanyahu arrest warrant, whereas many European nations have stated they respect the courtroom’s independence within the case.
The Israeli army launched a marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, by which about 1,200 individuals have been killed and 251 others have been taken hostage.
Not less than 57,575 individuals have been killed in Gaza since then, based on the territory’s Hamas-run well being ministry.
Most of Gaza’s inhabitants has additionally been displaced a number of occasions. Greater than 90% of properties are estimated to be broken or destroyed; the healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene methods have collapsed; and there are shortages of meals, gas, medication and shelter.
