US returns UN Palestinian rights expert Francesca Albanese to sanctions list
The US Treasury has added UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian Human Rights Francesca Albanese back to its sanctions list. The Trump administration said the decision is intended to 'support accountability in international institutions'. The UN and the EU pushed back. Al Jazeera presented the parties' positions with equal weight.
Reporting from Washington, Al Jazeera said the order signed by Andrea Gacki, the US Treasury's Sanctions Director, returns Francesca Albanese's name to the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals list. The sanction freezes any US assets and bars federal agencies from financial or administrative engagement with her. A Treasury spokesperson said the decision 'does not target specific individuals but strengthens the accountability framework in international institutions'.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Guterres viewed the decision 'with deep concern' and that the rapporteur's UN mandate is 'independent'. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas wrote that the EU 'does not agree' with the decision; Ireland, Spain and Norway's foreign ministries issued supportive statements. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanction 'a necessary response to one-sided bias inside the UN'.
Albanese said on social media that she would continue in her role and continue to submit her reports to the UN Human Rights Council; her reports reiterate that she 'remains bound by the formal steps of UNHRC procedure'. Al Jazeera gave all statements equal weight; this article does not adopt an editorial position endorsing any side's view.
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