SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — An independent U.N. investigator and vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, Francesca Albanese, expressed her shock on Thursday regarding the sanctions imposed on her by the Trump administration. In an interview with The Associated Press, Albanese emphasized that the powerful are attempting to silence her in her efforts to advocate for those lacking power, stating, "other than standing and hoping not to die, not to see their children slaughtered."
Albanese, who serves as the U.N. special rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza, firmly maintained her stance on the ongoing conflict, referring to the situation in Gaza as "genocide" perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians, a claim that both Israel and the United States have vehemently denied. The U.S. State Department's decision to sanction Albanese followed what appeared to be an unsuccessful campaign by U.S. officials aimed at removing her from her position at the Human Rights Council, the United Nations' principal human rights body.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on social media that "Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated," reinforcing the U.S. commitment to standing with its allies in their right to defend themselves. The sanctions were publicly announced on a day when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting Washington for discussions regarding a potential ceasefire amid the escalating war in Gaza.
During her interview, Albanese criticized the reception of Netanyahu by U.S. officials, highlighting that he is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the military actions in Gaza. She noted that neither the U.S. nor Israel recognizes the ICC, a point that complicates the international legal context of the conflict. Albanese stated, "We need to reverse the tide, and in order for it to happen we need to stand united," affirming that efforts to silence her will ultimately fail.
Moreover, Albanese reiterated her belief that true change can only come from overcoming fear and advocating for Palestinian rights and sovereignty. She challenged the normalization of the U.S. administration's stance, stating, "The Trump administration’s stand is not normal," and emphasized her ongoing commitment to speaking out, declaring, "No one is free until Palestine is free."
Albanese was traveling to attend the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where over 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serbs in a U.N.-designated safe zone. Following the sanctions against Albanese, several organizations, including the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and the Center for Constitutional Rights, publicly opposed the U.S. actions. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric warned that the imposition of sanctions on special rapporteurs sets a dangerous precedent, calling it "unacceptable."
Despite the backlash against her, Albanese continued to highlight the severity of the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The war between Israel and Hamas, which commenced on October 7, 2023, had already resulted in significant loss of life: around 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, were killed on the first day of attacks, while the Gaza Health Ministry reported that over 57,000 Palestinians had died in the subsequent Israeli retaliatory strikes, predominantly women and children.
The conflict has now displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents, leading to rampant hunger due to the ongoing blockade on food and severely restricted medical care. As the situation continues to deteriorate, Albanese's central message remains: the call for an end to violence and the establishment of Palestinian statehood.
