U.S. State Department Imposes Sanctions on Hostile Legal Campaign Targeting American and Israeli Individuals

SadaNews - U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio today imposed sanctions on Francesca Paula Albanese, the UN Human Rights Council's special rapporteur concerning the human rights situation in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, under Executive Order 14203 issued by President Trump, relating to "sanctions against the International Criminal Court," according to a statement from the U.S. State Department. Albanese has worked directly with the International Criminal Court in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute American or Israeli citizens without the consent of these two countries. The statement added that neither the United States nor Israel is a party to the Rome Statute, making this action a blatant violation of the sovereignty of both countries. The U.S. State Department stated that the United States has repeatedly condemned and objected to Albanese's biased and nefarious activities that have long rendered her unqualified to serve as a special rapporteur. Albanese has openly expressed anti-Semitic views, supported terrorism, and publicly displayed contempt for the United States, Israel, and the West. This bias has been evident throughout her career, including her unfounded recommendation to the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The State Department added that Albanese has recently escalated this effort by sending threatening letters to dozens of entities around the world, including major American companies in financial, technology, defense, energy, and hospitality sectors, making extreme baseless accusations and recommending the International Criminal Court investigate and prosecute these companies and their executives. The State Department stated that we will not tolerate these campaigns advocating political and economic war that threaten our national interests and sovereignty. The United States will continue to take any actions it deems necessary to respond to this hostile legal campaign, curb and prevent the unlawful excesses and abuses of power of the International Criminal Court, and protect our sovereignty and that of our allies.