Days of Pal—The Hamas Movement has condemned the United States’ imposition of sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian territories, calling it “a blatant expression of the U.S. administration’s deep bias toward Zionist war crimes” and “a disregard for international institutions and their representatives who document the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the occupation in Gaza.”
In a press statement released Friday, Hamas stressed that “the punitive measures taken by the United States against institutions and individuals fulfilling their professional and moral duties in documenting the genocide in Gaza, most recently against Albanese, undermine the foundations of international and humanitarian law and embolden Israeli war criminals to continue their brutal crimes.”
The Movement urged the US administration to “reconsider its policies that position it as an actual partner in the killing of children and women and the destruction of civilian life in Gaza,” calling for Washington to “lift its criminal cover from this ongoing massacre that has now lasted 21 months.”
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State announced the sanctioning of Albanese for her efforts to prompt the International Criminal Court to take action against both the U.S. and the Israeli occupation for violations of international law amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
In response, Albanese wrote on her Instagram and X accounts: “No comment on mafia-style intimidation. I am busy reminding member states of their obligations to prevent and punish genocide — and those who benefit from it.”
Also on Wednesday, Albanese demanded that Italy, France, and Greece explain their role in granting “safe airspace” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who is wanted by international justice for war crimes.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “Today, I am imposing sanctions on Albanese for her unlawful and disgraceful efforts to push the ICC to act against American and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.” He added that Albanese’s political and economic campaign against the U.S. and the Israeli occupation “will no longer be tolerated,” and that “we will continue to take whatever steps we deem necessary.”
On the same day, the U.S. also called on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to remove Albanese from her position, accusing her of “antisemitism,” according to American claims.
Since October 2023, Albanese has issued multiple reports documenting Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and has described Israeli attacks and actions in the occupied territories as genocide.
Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation, with US support, has carried out a genocide in Gaza involving mass killings, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international appeals and orders from the International Court of Justice to stop.
The war has resulted in more than 195,000 Palestinians killed or injured, the majority of them children and women, along with over 10,000 missing persons, hundreds of thousands displaced, and famine that has claimed the lives of many, including children.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=65645
