US lifts sanctions on Francesca Albanese, UN expert on Palestinian rights | The BriefWire
US lifts sanctions on Francesca Albanese, UN expert on Palestinian rights
Published on 5/21/2026, 1:02:37 AM
Key points
Albanese is among several people sanctioned by the US for advocacy against Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.
The United States has removed sanctions against the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, a week after a federal judge said the measures restricted her freedom of speech.
In a brief update on its website on Wednesday, the US Department of the Treasury listed Albanese’s name under the heading: “International Criminal Court-related Designation Removal”.
The announcement comes after US District Judge Richard Leon issued a temporary injunction against the sanctions in response to a case filed by Albanese’s husband and daughter in February.
The lawsuit argued that the sanctions were imposed as a punishment for her public advocacy against Israel’s human rights abuses of Palestinians.
Quick context: Albanese is among several people sanctioned by the US for advocacy against Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.