Washington, July 10 (V7N) – The United States has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, over her reporting on Israeli human rights violations during the ongoing Gaza war.

The decision was announced on Wednesday (July 9) by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused Albanese of "waging political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel." The sanctions come amid growing international criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and increasing scrutiny of Western complicity.

In response, Albanese dismissed the sanctions, telling Al Jazeera that she would continue her work undeterred. “No comment on the mafia-style intimidation,” she wrote in a text message. “I am busy reminding member states of their responsibility to stop the genocide and hold those responsible accountable — including those profiting from this war.”

Earlier that day, Albanese publicly criticized European governments for allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza, to use their airspace.

“Italian, French and Greek citizens should know that every political action that violates international law weakens and endangers them all,” she wrote on social media.

Albanese has been an outspoken critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza and has consistently urged the international community to uphold humanitarian law and protect Palestinian civilians. Her reports have drawn praise from human rights groups, but also fierce backlash from pro-Israel lobbies and Western governments.

The US sanctions have sparked concern among rights advocates, who warn that this move may set a dangerous precedent of political retaliation against independent UN officials investigating potential war crimes.

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