US lifts sanctions on UN expert Francesca Albanese for Palestinian rights
Primary region US
Tags Diplomacy · Justice
Regions US · Middle East
The Trump administration lifted sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories. Albanese was among several individuals sanctioned by the US for advocacy against Israel's military operations in Gaza. The sanctions had drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and UN member states. The reversal comes amid ongoing international pressure over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and follows the US ambassador to Israel's public criticism of Minister Ben-Gvir's treatment of detained flotilla activists.
Strategic interpretation
The sanctions reversal may signal a recalibration of the Trump administration's approach to international institutions and human rights advocacy, possibly driven by the diplomatic costs of maintaining sanctions against a UN official. The timing alongside the Ben-Gvir criticism suggests the administration is attempting to balance its pro-Israel positioning with enough distance from the Israeli far-right to maintain broader diplomatic relationships.