U.S. reinstates sanctions against UN expert on Palestinians after winning court appeal

UN special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese. Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images/File

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The United States on Wednesday reimposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories who has harshly criticized Israel, after an appeals court overruled an earlier order prohibiting the action.

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A notice on the Treasury Department’s website showed that it had reimposed a sanctions designation on Albanese that blacklists her globally, making it impossible for her to use major credit cards or carry out bank transactions.

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Albanese, who is Italian, has been a relentless critic of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians in her role as the United Nations special rapporteur overseeing the Palestinian territories.

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The U.S. Treasury’s move came after a Friday order from an appeals court issued an administrative stay on an earlier ruling while the court considers the merits of the case.

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The case was brought by Albanese’s husband, Massimiliano Cali on behalf of their child, a U.S. citizen who is still a minor.

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Albanese has been at the forefront of accusing Israel of carrying out genocide in Gaza in its devastating military campaign after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, announcing sanctions against her in July last year, said she has “spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed support for terrorism and open contempt for the United States, Israel and the West.”

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Albanese denies allegations of antisemitism, which have also been made by Israel.

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