US Sanctions UN Palestinian Envoy Over ICC Advocacy

The United States, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, citing her advocacy for International Criminal Court investigations and sanctions targeting Israeli officials and companies. The US accused Albanese of engaging in 'political and economic warfare' against the US and Israel. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and rights chief Volker Turk condemned the sanctions, warning they set a dangerous precedent and undermine independent human rights mechanisms. Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer, denounced the sanctions as an attempt to silence her and affirmed her dedication to Palestinian justice. Human rights groups and legal experts criticized the US action as eroding the rules-based international order and intimidating investigators. The move comes amid ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and heightened scrutiny of US policy towards Israel and the ICC.