The United States re-added Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories, to its sanctions list on May 27, 2026, allowing restrictions against her to resume after being temporarily blocked earlier this month [1, 2, 3]. Albanese, an Italian citizen with close family ties to the US, including a US citizen daughter and residence, now faces a ban from entering the US. Her US-based assets are frozen, and US entities are barred from doing business with her [1, 2, 3].
Albanese was first sanctioned in July 2025 after she urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take legal action against US and Israeli officials. At that time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused her of "lawfare" and engaging in "biased and malicious activities" against Israel, further claiming she spread anti-Semitism [1, 2, 3]. Albanese denies these allegations and calls the sanctions an intimidation tactic designed to silence her activism [2].
A federal judge temporarily blocked the sanctions earlier in May 2026, citing violations of Albanese's free speech rights and allowing her limited relief. However, on May 23, a US Court of Appeals panel issued an administrative stay of the injunction, enabling the sanctions to be enforced once more. The court noted, "The administrative stay is procedural and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits" [1, 2, 3].
Albanese has publicly accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza since 2023, claims supported by some human rights experts. The conflict has led to more than 75,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since 2023 [2, 3]. Albanese and her family filed a lawsuit challenging the sanctions, arguing they disrupt her life and violate her right to free speech [1, 2, 3]. The sanctions also have a global reach, freezing her ability to use credit cards and conduct international banking transactions [3].
The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 against Israeli officials Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, following Albanese's recommendations [2]. The US maintains that Albanese's activism undermines US and Israeli interests, while Albanese contends that the sanctions are an attempt to intimidate and silence criticism.
The US Treasury Department re-added Albanese to the sanctions list effective May 27, 2026, reaffirming the restrictions after the appellate decision [1, 2, 3].
