Marco Rubio Sanctions UN Official Over Israel Criticism
Senator Marco Rubio has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, a UN Human Rights Council official, following her criticisms of Israel's actions in Gaza.
Accusations Against Albanese
Rubio accuses Albanese of leading a "campaign of political and economic warfare" against the United States and Israel. Albanese, a Special Rapporteur, had urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate alleged war crimes committed by Israel.
US Response and Allegations
The US had previously called for Albanese's removal from her UN post, citing antisemitism. A report by Albanese accused 48 companies of profiting from cooperation with the Israeli government, describing Israel's actions as a "calculated economy of genocide."
Albanese's Stance
Albanese was banned from Israel after claiming the October 7th massacre was a response to Israeli oppression, further stating that Israel's Gaza offensive is part of a systematic displacement of Palestinians.