DaysofPal- As international calls grow louder for accountability over acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip, the United States has imposed sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Francesca Albanese, which is a move that has drawn sharp criticism.
International law expert Dr. Lina Tabbal described the decision as “a dangerous precedent” that undermines international justice by punishing those who document crimes rather than those who commit them.
In an interview with Felesteen newspaper, Tabbal said the U.S. action represents a blatant interference in the independence of the UN’s human rights mechanisms. She stressed that special rapporteurs enjoy protection and independence under their mandates, and that any attempt to sanction them erodes their credibility and politicizes their work.
Albanese, who has documented Israeli war crimes and acts of genocide in Gaza in multiple reports since October 2023, had called for prosecuting those responsible, including companies complicit in the aggression, some of which are based in the U.S. and the Israeli occupation and operate in technology and arms industries.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions were in response to Albanese’s “illegitimate efforts” to prompt the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take action against American and Israeli individuals and corporations. Tabbal condemned this as “a clear act of political retaliation” aimed at silencing truth-tellers.
She warned that the move represents a blow to international justice, sending a message that impunity will be tolerated and discouraging states and institutions from taking legal action against major powers or their allies.
“This is not just a legal disagreement,” she added. “It is a direct punishment of anyone who dares to call these crimes by their names, especially when they implicate U.S. allies.”
Tabbal noted that Washington has not only ignored UN reports, but has now moved to target those who write them, an unprecedented act against independent UN experts. She pointed out that this fits into a broader U.S. pattern, including previous sanctions imposed on ICC judges and staff.
She concluded by warning that such policies turn human rights advocacy into a “political minefield,” erode the trust of victims and witnesses in international institutions, and pose a serious threat to the future of international law and justice.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=65734
