Did Francesca Albanese just get the badge of honour? or Sanctioned? as people question the move on social media as the US sanctions UN expert Francesca Albanese, critic of Israel’s Gaza war on a civilian population in Gaza, in fact, she was one of the leading people recognise it as a genocide.
Unusually, for the State department this seems like a rash move done in haste to appease Benjamin Netanyahu. But it seems Donald Trump is pushing for the Benjamin Netanyhu to get pardoned domestically and globally, as he sees it as the only way Bibi will make peace.
Did Francesca Albanese just get the badge of honour?
Rubio said the US was sanctioning Albanese for directly engaging with the ICC in its efforts to prosecute American or Israeli nationals, accusing her of being unfit for service as a UN Special Rapporteur.
These sanctions are designed to discredit the UN Special Rapporteur, but could have the opposite effect. The public have taken to her directness and honesty and this will only champion her further.
By placing sanctions on Francesca the US and Israel have recognised the waves that she is making on social media, not just in the United States but also across Europe.
US sanctions UN expert Francesca Albanese
It was a curious move that came right after Bibi Netanyhu’s meeting in Washington with President Trump and Netanyahu presented the president with a Starmer-like-letter of recommendation for the Nobel peace prize.
The US secretary of State made a specific point to link the move to her support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), who have issued Netanyahu’s arrest warrant for crimes against humanity, with some of the judges who have already been sanctioned by the US.
Why did the US sanction Francesca Albanese?
Why did the US sanction Francesca Albanese? well in 5 words; ‘because she is a threat’. In more detail, because she a threat to Netanyahu being able to escape and evade teh ICJ arrest warrant as a war criminal. She has become an influence and won’t allow the governments to avoid Benjamin Netanyahu’s capture, especially in Europe and escape without punishment.
The special rapporteur has long argued that Western governments are not doing enough to support the rights of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. And because she was one of the first people in authority to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza.
Her outspoken stance has attracted monumental support among those who accuse Israeli and US leaders of weaponising accusations of antisemitism in order to silence scrutiny of their policies.
The sanctions are likely to prevent the Italian Albanese from travelling to the US and would block any assets she has in the country.
In real terms the sanctions won’t damage her credibility, in fact these sanctions have become a badge of honour on social media, which are being trolled as being on the right side of history.