UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese tells Al Jazeera Washington’s transfer is retaliation for ‘pursuit of justice’ in Israel’s struggle on Gaza.
United Nations professional Francesca Albanese has slammed the choice by the USA to sanction her as “obscene”, saying she is being focused for calling out Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Chatting with Al Jazeera on Thursday, Albanese, who serves because the UN’s particular rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, mentioned she wouldn’t be cowed into silence by the US transfer towards her on Wednesday.
Albanese careworn that the penalties imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration wouldn’t cease her “quest for [the] respect of justice and worldwide regulation”.
The particular rapporteur mentioned Washington’s techniques reminded her of “Mafia intimidation strategies” earlier than suggesting that “sanctions will solely work if persons are scared and cease partaking”.
“I wish to remind everybody [that] the explanation why these sanctions are being imposed is the pursuit of justice,” Albanese mentioned.
“In fact I’ve been important of Israel. It has been committing genocide and crimes towards humanity and struggle crimes,” she added.
Whereas saying the sanctions on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio charged Albanese with waging a “marketing campaign of political and financial warfare towards the USA and Israel”.
The UN rapporteur hit again on Thursday, noting that the atrocities being dedicated in Gaza weren’t simply right down to “the unrelinquished territorial ambitions of Israel” and the backing of its supporters but in addition “firms who’re making the most of it”.
Final week, she launched a report mapping the firms aiding Israel within the displacement of Palestinians and its genocidal struggle on Gaza in breach of worldwide regulation.
Albanese advised Al Jazeera that she was nonetheless evaluating the results the US sanctions would have on her.
Nevertheless, she mentioned her issues are nothing in contrast with what Palestinians face in Gaza throughout Israel’s ongoing bombardments, floor operations and blockade of the territory.
Albanese additionally took purpose on the Gaza Humanitarian Basis (GHF), calling it a “demise entice”. The Israeli- and US-backed group runs the help distribution websites the place tons of of Palestinians have been shot and killed since late Could whereas queueing for meals.
Transfer towards Albanese ‘a harmful precedent’
The UN professional additionally defended the Worldwide Prison Court docket’s (ICC’s) investigation into Israeli actions in Gaza and its choice to name for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrest on fees of struggle crimes.
Rubio has described Albanese’s push for the prosecution of Israeli officers on the ICC because the authorized foundation for the sanctions.
UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres’s spokesman was amongst these to criticise the US sanctions on Albanese.
Whereas highlighting that Albanese stories to the UN Human Rights Council slightly than the secretary-general, Stephane Dujarric known as the choice “a harmful precedent”.
“The usage of unilateral sanctions towards particular rapporteurs or another UN professional or official is unacceptable,” he mentioned.
UN Human Rights Council Ambassador Jurg Lauber additionally lamented the transfer towards Albanese.
“I name on all UN member states to totally cooperate with the particular rapporteurs and mandate holders of the council and to chorus from any acts of intimidation or reprisal towards them,” Lauber mentioned.
Israel’s marketing campaign in Gaza has destroyed a lot of the territory and killed greater than 57,575 Palestinians over the previous 21 months, in keeping with native well being officers.
