Treasury sanctions Francesca Albanese a week after removing her from list
The U.S. treasury reimposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese,the U.N. special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, just a week after removing her from a federal sanctions list. The Office of Foreign Asset Control placed her back on its specially designated nationals roster under an International Criminal Court-related sanctions authority, which generally blocks Americans and U.S. companies from doing business with her and can freeze U.S.-linked assets.
Albanese,an Italian human rights lawyer,was originally sanctioned by the Trump management in July 2025 after accusations that she was engaging in “political and economic warfare” by pushing ICC investigations involving Israeli and U.S. officials. Treasury’s actions followed claims that she sent “threatening letters” to multiple companies and organizations, urging ICC prosecutions.
The renewed sanctions come after a federal judge earlier this month barred enforcement,reasoning that her statements and actions amounted to protected opinion under the First Amendment as she does not work for the ICC. The administration then moved to appeal,and Wednesday’s decision restored restrictions affecting her access to U.S. financial systems and raising secondary sanctions concerns for banks and businesses.
The Treasury Department on Wednesday reimposed sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur on Palestinian territories, just one week after removing her from a federal sanctions list.
The Office of Foreign Asset Control added Albanese to its specially designated nationals list under sanctions tied to the International Criminal Court, according to a Treasury notice released Wednesday.
Recommended Stories
The move effectively freezes any U.S.-linked assets and generally bars Americans and U.S. entities from doing business with her.
Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer who serves as the U.N. special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, was first sanctioned by the Trump administration in July 2025.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the time accused her of waging “political and economic warfare” against the United States and Israel through efforts to encourage ICC investigations of Israeli and U.S. officials.
The Trump administration’s ire of Albanese reached a fever pitch when she sent “threatening letters” to dozens of global businesses and groups, including American companies, making extreme and unfounded accusations and recommending the ICC pursue investigations and prosecutions of these companies and their executives.
The sanctions became a flash point in debates over free speech, U.S. support for Israel, and the independence of international institutions.
Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked enforcement of the penalties after he argued that since Albanese doesn’t work for the ICC, her actions and words in support of the charges constitute her opinion, which is protected under the First Amendment, leading the Treasury to remove her from the sanctions database while the administration pursued an appeal.
ISRAEL KILLS TOP HAMAS MILITARY CHIEF IN AIRSTRIKE
Wednesday’s move restores restrictions that had limited Albanese’s access to U.S. financial systems and prevented many banks and businesses from dealing with her because of secondary sanctions risks. The penalties also complicate her and her family’s personal finances, as detailed in her lawsuit against the Trump administration.
Albanese has drawn fierce criticism from pro-Israel groups and Trump administration officials for accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and for backing accountability efforts at the ICC.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
