US reimposes sanctions on UN rapporteur Albanese

The United States has reinstated sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, following a successful appeal by the government. The U.S. Department of the Treasury returned Albanese to its sanctions list on Wednesday, one week after a lower court order had forced her temporary removal.

The sanctions, which are tied to the International Criminal Court, effectively freeze any U.S.-linked assets belonging to Albanese and generally bar American individuals and entities from conducting business with her. This restricts her ability to use major credit cards or access standard banking services, measures she has described as causing a state of civil death regarding her financial and academic livelihood.

Albanese, an Italian international lawyer appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, monitors and reports on human rights conditions in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. She has drawn significant attention for her official UN reports, which have accused Israel of committing acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza. In her role, she has repeatedly called on governments to cut ties with Israel,...