The United States has re-added Francesca Albanese, a United Nations expert on the Palestinian territories, to a list of sanctioned individuals, according to a notice posted to the US Treasury's website on Wednesday.
Background of the Sanctions
Albanese, who serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights situation in the Palestinian territories, was initially removed from the sanctions list earlier in May. The Trump administration described that removal as a temporary measure. However, the latest update on the Treasury website indicates that she has been placed back under sanctions.
Reaction and Implications
The decision to re-list Albanese has drawn attention from international observers, as it underscores the ongoing tensions between the US and UN bodies regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Albanese has been a vocal critic of Israeli policies in the occupied territories, and her designation as a sanctioned individual by the US has been controversial.
As of now, no official statement has been released by the US Treasury or the State Department explaining the rationale behind the re-listing. The move is expected to further strain relations between Washington and the UN, particularly in matters concerning human rights and the Palestinian issue.
