The UN referred to as on Washington Thursday to reverse its choice to sanction a UN professional who has repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and has criticised US coverage on the battle there.
United Nations rights chief Volker Turk additionally referred to as for a halt to “attacks and threats” towards folks appointed by the UN and different worldwide establishments just like the International Criminal Court, whose judges have additionally been hit with US sanctions.
“I urge the prompt reversal of US sanctions against a Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council, Francesca Albanese, in response to work she has undertaken under the mandate on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory,” Turk stated in a press release.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday introduced that Washington was sanctioning the outspoken professional “for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt (ICC) action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives”.
Albanese slammed the sanctions as “calculated to weaken my mission”.
“I will continue to do what I have to do,” she advised reporters throughout a go to to Slovenia.
No particulars have been instantly launched about what the sanctions entailed.
Rubio slammed the UN professional’s strident criticism of the United States and stated she really useful to the ICC that arrest warrants be issued focusing on Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rubio, whose nation has boycotted the UN rights council since President Donald Trump returned to energy in January, additionally accused Albanese of “biased and malicious activities” and accused her of getting “spewed unabashed antisemitism (and) support for terrorism”.
“We will not tolerate these campaigns of political and economic warfare, which threaten our national interests and sovereignty,” Rubio stated.
– ‘Genocide’ –
Albanese has lengthy confronted harsh criticism by Israel and a few of its allies over her relentless criticism and long-standing accusations that Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza.
The Italy-born professional, who assumed her present mandate in 2022, launched a damning report earlier this month denouncing firms — a lot of them American — that she stated “profited from the Israeli economy of illegal occupation, apartheid, and now genocide” within the occupied Palestinian territories.
The report provoked a livid response from Israel, whereas a number of the named firms additionally raised objections.
Washington final month slapped sanctions on 4 ICC judges, partly over the courtroom’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu, barring them from the United States.
UN particular rapporteurs like Albanese are unbiased consultants who’re appointed by the UN rights council however don’t converse on behalf of the United Nations.
– ‘Attacks and threats’ –
The present president of the rights council, Swiss ambassador Jurg Lauber, additionally decried the sanctions towards the professional in a press release.
He urged UN member states to “fully cooperate with the Special Rapporteurs and mandate holders of the Council and to refrain from any acts of intimidation or reprisal against them”.
Turk stated the rapporteurs labored on “sensitive and often divisive issues, that are of international concern” and urged member states to keep away from resorting to “punitive measures”.
Israel on Wednesday recommended Rubio’s motion towards the rapporteur.
“Albanese has consistently undermined the credibility of the UN Human Rights Council by promoting false narratives and pushing for illegitimate legal actions that ignore the realities on the ground,” stated Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon.
Source: www.anews.com.tr