US federal judge blocks US sanctions against UN's Francesca Albanese

US federal judge blocks US sanctions against UN's Francesca Albanese Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 05/14/2026 - 05:57 The special rapporteur on Palestine was sanctioned after recommending the International Criminal Court to pursue war-crimes prosecutions against Israeli and American nationals United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese presents her latest report before delegates at the UN Rights Council, in Geneva, on 23 March 2026. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP) Off A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked US sanctions against United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese , saying that the administration of Donald Trump likely violated her free-speech rights. Albanese was sanctioned in July 2025 following her public criticism of Israel's war on Gaza and  scathing report  on 30 June in which she named over 60 companies, including major US technology firms like Google, Amazon and Microsoft, which she said were involved in "the transformation of Israel's economy of occupation to an economy of genocide".   The report called for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and national judicial systems to pursue investigations and prosecute corporate executives and companies. It also called on United Nations member states to pursue sanctions and asset freezes. In his court order on Wednesday, US District Judge Richard Leon said "protecting the freedom of speech is 'always' in the public interest," in an opinion accompanying the order as he granted a preliminary injunction against the sanctions. As a result of the sanction, the UN expert was barred from entering the US and banking there. Albane...

Original source: Middle East Eye