Senator Marco Rubio announced new U.S. sanctions against UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, citing her efforts to push the International Criminal Court to target both American and Israeli officials and corporations. Rubio branded her actions as a campaign of “political and economic warfare” and declared they would no longer be tolerated. The sanctions follow earlier requests for her dismissal, which were rejected by the UN Secretary-General.
Albanese, appointed in 2022 to monitor human rights in Palestinian territories, has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and labeled U.S. companies’ support for Israel as complicit. Her report urged investigations into nearly 50 corporations for alleged war crimes. She also compared Israeli policies to Nazi Germany, asserting her criticisms were rooted in patterns of oppression.
Rubio’s sanctions underscore a sharp deterioration in U.S.–UN relations over Middle East policy. He justified the move as necessary to defend U.S. sovereignty and support allied nations. As this measure moves forward, it signals greater political pressure on UN human rights officials and potential repercussions for those who openly criticize U.S. allies.