US Issues Sanctions Against UN Rapporteur
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced financial sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur, on Wednesday. He criticized her actions in pursuing legal actions involving Americans and Israeli officials at the International Criminal Court (ICC), claiming she had crossed a line.
This decision escalates the ongoing tensions between Washington and the ICC, which had earlier led to sanctions against four judges from the court. This move underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to defend its allies from what it views as politically motivated prosecutions. Albanese, who serves as the UN human rights envoy for Palestine, had been encouraging the ICC to pursue cases against US and Israeli officials linked to what she termed a “genocide economy.”
Rubio expressed his stance clearly on social media, stating, “I have imposed sanctions on the UN Human Rights Council.” He emphasized the importance of supporting their partners’ rights to self-defense, suggesting that the administration remains steadfast in protecting US allies.
Albanese stirred controversy recently by urging global businesses to sever connections with Israel, warning that they might be complicit in what she described as a “genocide economy.” This claim was dismissed by Israeli authorities as baseless.
In response to the sanctions, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk criticized them as undermining good governance and judicial independence. Rubio’s latest designation adds to previous actions where he sought to shield US sovereignty and curb future investigations into American and Israeli actions.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the sanctions, interpreting them as a clear signal to the UN about perceived anti-Israel bias. He urged the international body to take heed of this message.
Rubio’s actions indicate that the administration is not backing down, and he warned that additional sanctions could be forthcoming for any parties that continue actions detrimental to US allies.
