- In an historic and unprecedented step, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced today that the U.S. government is sanctioning Francesca Albanese, the UN’s discredited “Special Rapporteur on Palestine,” over her “illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt International Criminal Court action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.”
UN Watch, a Geneva-based human rights organization, welcomed the news as a major victory for justice and the rule of law. The move comes after UN Watch led a global campaign demanding sanctions for Albanese, with more than 120,000 people signing its petition calling on the United States to take action.
“This is a bold and courageous move by Secretary Rubio,” said Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch. “No UN official - or, in this case, a purported official - has ever been sanctioned before in history. Then again, no UN official has ever been condemned for Holocaust distortion and antisemitism by France, Germany, Canada, and both Democratic and Republican U.S. administrations. Francesca Albanese is an openly antisemitic supporter of terrorism.”
The U.S. sanctions mean Albanese is now barred from entering the United States and will be denied access to American university campuses where she has previously spread her hatred of Jews and support for Hamas terrorism.
“Albanese has accused the ‘Jewish lobby’ of controlling America,” said Neuer. “In January 2015, she blamed the CIA and Mossad for the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack. On October 7, while Hamas was still massacring Israeli civilians, she justified the violence by tweeting that it must be ‘put in context.’ Today, justice is served. Good triumphs over evil.”
Last Thursday, in a debate at the United Nations Human Rights Council, UN Watch’s Hillel Neuer confronted Francesca Albanese for ignoring terrorism and taking funding from pro-Hamas groups. Video of the clash has been seen 500,000 times since it was posted last night.
The action by Secretary Rubio follows mounting outrage over Albanese’s conduct, including her:
Justification of Hamas terrorism on and after October 7, 2023;
Denial that the October 7 massacre was the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust;
Repeated comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany, including calling Gaza a “concentration camp” and invoking “pure race” laws;
Public support for Hamas and her statement at a Hamas conference that Palestinians have “a right to resist.”
Albanese’s purported reappointment in April 2025 was carried out by the UN in blatant violation of its own rules and in contempt of formal objections by the U.S. Government and multiple democracies, as detailed by UN Watch in its April 30th letter to Secretary Rubio.
As such, UN Watch formally notified UN Secretary-General António Guterres that her mandate legally expired on April 30, and that as of May 1, 2025, Albanese no longer held official UN status or immunity.
UN Watch’s detailed report, “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing,” documents Albanese’s record of incitement, antisemitism, and support for terrorist groups. The report served as the basis for the public petition urging U.S. sanctions.
In February 2024, Albanese was condemned by both France and Germany for antisemitism when she denied that the October 7 Hamas massacre was the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust, instead justifying it as a “reaction to Israel’s oppression.” France labeled her remarks “scandalous” and “a disgrace,” while Germany described them as “appalling” and “a disgrace.” Both denounced her justification of the terror attacks and her denial of their antisemitic nature.
“Today’s move by the United States affirms a key message: hatred has consequences. She will never again spread her poison on American campuses or enter the country,” said Neuer. “This is a message to the UN: stop appointing antisemites and terrorist supporters to be your human rights experts.”
UN Watch thanks the more than 120,000 supporters who joined its campaign and calls on the United Nations to formally terminate Albanese’s mandate and ensure that future appointees meet the standards of impartiality, integrity, and respect for human rights.
Francesca Albanese appeared before the United Nations to tell terrible lies about Israel. Condemned for antisemitism last year by France, Germany, Canada & the US, she now says “one people was enriched” by “erasing” Palestinians. Evil regimes embraced her. Then I took the floor: pic.twitter.com/XDTlWlu050
- Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) July 8, 2025
