'There are no red lines anymore' says UN Palestinian rights expert on US sanctions
FILE PHOTO: UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese gives a press conference at the UN City in Copenhagen, Denmark February 5, 2025. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS/File Photo
GENEVA - The top U.N. expert on Palestinian rights said on Friday that the U.S. decision to place her under sanctions could have a "chilling effect" on people who engage with her and restrict her movements, but that she planned to continue her work.
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Francesca Albanese would be added to the U.S. sanctions list for her actions, which he described as prompting illegitimate prosecutions of Israelis at the International Criminal Court.
Albanese said she now faces asset freezes and potential travel restrictions, warning that the U.S. decision could set a "dangerous" precedent for human rights defenders worldwide.
"There are no red lines anymore ... It is scary," she told Reuters via video link from Bosnia, where she was attending events for the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.
"It might block me from moving around. It will have a chilling effect on people normally engaging with me because for American citizens or for green card holders, this is going to be extremely problematic."
"My plans are to continue what I've been doing," she added.
The White House was not immediately available for comment.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore ST will have Govt's 'full confidence and support' in its mission: PM Wong
Singapore ST will aim to become an indispensable partner to S'pore's communities: Editor Jaime Ho
Singapore Wishes for ST beyond 180: Odes to its enduring role in the Singapore story
Singapore Heartbeats & Headlines: ST's 180-year legacy comes to life in immersive exhibition
Singapore Trusted news, smarter experience with new Straits Times website and app
Singapore Community space Stranger Conversations blossoms as 'library of human stories' and life experiences
Singapore Man who killed 5-year-old daughter gets life sentence after he appeals against 35-year jail term
Singapore Judge declines to void alleged sham marriage in S'pore, says it is for Parliament to decide
The U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories is one of dozens of experts appointed by the 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council to report on specific global issues.
Albanese, an Italian lawyer and academic, has been a vocal critic of Israel's treatment of Palestinians. She recently published a report calling on states at the U.N. Council to impose an arms embargo and cut off trade and financial ties with Israel, while accusing the U.S. ally of waging a "genocidal campaign" in Gaza.
Israel's mission in Geneva said the report was "legally groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of her office."
The U.N. Human Rights office confirmed on Friday that Albanese is the first special rapporteur to be sanctioned and called for the decision to be reversed. The European Union said it "deeply regrets" the U.S. decision. Rights defenders have also rallied to her defence.
Israel has faced accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the ICC over its military assault on Gaza.
Israel strongly denies the accusations and says its campaign amounts to self-defence after the deadly, Hamas-led attack that triggered the war in October 2023. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
King Charles to host Trump in September for state visit to Britain, palace says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox MANCHESTER, England - Britain's King Charles will host U.S. President Donald Trump in September for his unprecedented second state visit to Britain, Buckingham Palace said on Monday. The visit will take place from September 17 to 19. "His Majesty the King will host the President and Mrs Trump at Windsor Castle," the palace said in a statement, adding that further details would be announced in due course. Trump said last month he had agreed to meet Charles after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer handed him a handwritten letter from the monarch in the Oval Office. The U.S. president will be the first elected political leader in modern times to be hosted for two state visits by a British monarch. The late Queen Elizabeth welcomed Trump to Buckingham Palace for a three-day state visit in June 2019 during his first term in office, during which he had a private lunch with the sovereign and had tea with Charles, who was then heir. Starmer and Trump are also due to meet in Scotland later this month, a source told Reuters last week, with details including the specific date yet to be finalised. The two leaders have developed a warm relationship in recent months, and last month signed a framework trade deal on the sidelines of a G7 meeting that formally lowered some U.S. tariffs on imports from Britain. In May, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticised Britain's invitation to Trump for a state visit, saying it undermined his government's effort to project a united front against the U.S. president's talk of annexing Canada. Trump's past visits to Britain have attracted large protests, with his 2018 trip costing police more than 14 million pounds ($18.88 million) as 10,000 officers were deployed from all over Britain. Most Britons have an unfavourable view of the president, according to opinion polls. State visits are usually pomp-laden affairs featuring an open-top carriage trip through central London and a banquet at Buckingham Palace. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
US senators aim to arm Trump with ‘sledgehammer' sanctions against Russia
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US President Donald Trump said he would be open to the sanctions bill as relations with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin grow frosty. WASHINGTON - US senators on July 13 touted a bipartisan bill that would arm President Donald Trump with 'sledgehammer' sanctions to use against Russia, ahead of a visit by the US special envoy to Ukraine. Mr Trump has indicated he would be open to the sanctions bill as relations with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin grow increasingly frosty. US special envoy Keith Kellogg is due to begin his latest visit to Ukraine while Mr Trump said he would make a 'major statement... on Russia' on July 14. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he had majority backing in the Senate for his bill, which was gaining momentum as Washington-led peace efforts in Ukraine have struggled to make headway. The bill would allow Mr Trump 'to go after Putin's economy, and all those countries who prop up the Putin war machine,' Mr Graham told broadcaster CBS news. Mr Trump, who has repeatedly said he is 'disappointed' with Mr Putin as Moscow unleashed deadly barrages of missiles against Kyiv, has hinted he might finally be ready to toughen sanctions. Mr Trump held off for the past six months while he tried to persuade Mr Putin to end the war. But the Republican president's patience appears to be wearing thin, telling reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House on July 8 that Mr Putin was talking 'a lot of bullshit' on Ukraine. Last week, Mr Trump also agreed to send Mr Zelensky more weapons, including through a deal with Nato which would involve the alliance purchasing US weapons to send to Ukraine. On July 10 , Mr Trump appeared to back the bill without detailing whether he would use it to slap sanctions on Moscow. 'They're going to pass a very major and very biting sanctions bill, but it's up to the president as to whether or not he wants to exercise it,' Mr Trump told broadcaster NBC. Asked during a cabinet meeting about his interest in the bill, Mr Trump said: 'I'm looking at it very strongly.' 'This congressional package that we're looking at would give President Trump the ability to impose 500 per cent tariffs on any country that helps Russia,' said Mr Graham, adding that those could include economies that purchase Russian goods like China, India or Brazil. 'This is truly a sledgehammer available to President Trump to end this war,' said Mr Graham. 'Without a doubt, this is exactly the kind of leverage that can bring peace closer and make sure diplomacy is not empty,' the Ukrainian leader said about the proposed bill in an X post. Mr Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal were to meet Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte on th e night of July 1 4. Mr Blumenthal told CBS news they would also discuss the legally thorny issue of unlocking frozen Russian assets in Europe and the United States for access by Ukraine. 'The US$5 billion (S$6.4 billion) that the United States has also could be accessed, and I think it's time to do it,' said Mr Blumenthal. AFP
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 14, 2025
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A Palestinian woman comforts an injured child at the Al-Awda hospital in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, following Israeli strikes on July 13. Israeli missile hits Gaza children collecting water, IDF blames malfunction At least eight Palestinians, most of them children, were killed and more than a dozen were wounded in central Gaza when they went to collect water on July 13, local officials said, in an Israeli strike which the military said missed its target. The Israeli military said the missile had intended to hit an Islamic Jihad militant in the area but that a malfunction had caused it to fall 'dozens of metres from the target'. "The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians," it said in a statement, adding that the incident was under review. The strike hit a water distribution point in Nuseirat refugee camp, killing six children and injuring 17 others, said Dr Ahmed Abu Saifan, an emergency physician at Al-Awda Hospital. READ MORE HERE Macron to raise France's defence targets, citing Russia threat President Emmanuel Macron on July 13 called for a massive boost to France's defence spending, saying freedom in Europe was facing a greater threat than at any time since the end of World War II. 'We are living a pivotal moment,' Mr Macron said in a speech to the armed forces on the eve of the national Bastille Day holiday, denouncing 'imperialist policies', 'annexing powers' and the notion that 'might is right', all a reference to Russia. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore From Normal stream to Parliament: 3 Singapore politicians share their journeys World Deal or no deal? EU faces critical decision in response to Trump's latest tariff salvo Singapore Segregated recycling bins found to lower contamination rate as more spring up Sport Two participants injured after another breached safety protocol during Pesta Sukan archery event Asia Mahathir discharged from hospital after feeling fatigued during birthday gathering Singapore Medics treat 7 after blaze at HDB block lift lobby in Chai Chee Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons 'Never has peace on our continent depended to such an extent on the decisions that we take now,' said Mr Macron. READ MORE HERE Most Thais want PM Paetongtarn to quit or Parliament dissolved: Survey PHOTO: AFP Most Thais want Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to quit or dissolve Parliament to ease political turmoil following her suspension from office by the country's Constitutional Court, according to an opinion poll. Ms Paetongtarn should resign to pave the way for a new premier, 42.4 per cent of respondents said, while 39.9 per cent backed the dissolution of Parliament to trigger new elections, according to the July 4-7 survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, known as Nida. Around 15 per cent of participants expect the prime minister to remain in office and a minority of 1.4 per cent support a coup to change the government, the poll showed. About 1,310 Thais aged 18 and above were interviewed in the survey, which a margin of error of 3 per cent, Nida said on July 13. READ MORE HERE Suspect dead, multiple people injured in series of Kentucky shootings, officials say PHOTO: REUTERS Multiple people, including a Kentucky police trooper, were injured in a series of shootings around Lexington, the state's governor and Kentucky State Police said on X. The state police said the sole suspect in the incident was dead and the police trooper is receiving treatment. Lexington police said the trooper was in stable condition. One of the shootings took place at Richmond Road Baptist Church and emergency responders were at the scene treating multiple victims, state police said. READ MORE HERE Sinner dethrones Alcaraz to capture maiden Wimbledon crown PHOTO: REUTERS Jannik Sinner downed defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on July 13 to win his first Wimbledon title, gaining sweet revenge for his painful defeat in the French Open final. The world number one is the first Italian to win at the All England Club and now has four Grand Slams to his name at the age of 23. Sinner stayed ice cool after losing the first set, with the momentum quickly shifting, and wrapped up victory in a shade over three hours.
