United States sanctions UN human rights expert Francesca Albanese for criticizing Israel's military actions in Gaza. The move, announced Friday, targets Albanese, who recently released a report accusing Israel of creating a "brutal occupation" and potentially committing war crimes.
The U.S. State Department cited Albanese's "antisemitic remarks and promotion of false narratives." Google co-founder Sergey Brin also publicly labeled the UN report as "transparently antisemitic."
Albanese, who investigates human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, has defended her work. Republican Senator Marco Rubio championed the sanctions, claiming her efforts unfairly targeted the U.S. and Israel. The decision has drawn condemnation from some international bodies.