US Reinstates Sanctions Against UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese

New York
The United States has reimposed financial sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, effectively blacklisting her from major international banking and credit card services.
A notice published Wednesday on the US Treasury Department’s website confirmed the reinstatement of the sanctions, which had briefly been blocked by a lower court ruling. An appeals court subsequently issued an administrative stay of that ruling, allowing the Treasury to move ahead while the legal merits of the case are further examined. The lawsuit was filed by Albanese’s husband on behalf of their minor child, who holds American citizenship.
Albanese, an Italian national, has been one of the most prominent international critics of Israel’s military operations in Gaza since October 2023, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who first announced the sanctions last July, accused Albanese of making “openly antisemitic statements, expressing support for terrorism, and demonstrating open hostility toward the United States, Israel, and the West.”
The reimposition of sanctions means Albanese faces severe restrictions on global financial transactions, rendering her unable to use major credit cards or conduct standard banking operations internationally. The move has drawn criticism from human rights advocates who argue it sets a dangerous precedent for the independence of UN mandate holders.