US Sanctions UN Rapporteur for Supporting International Criminal Court, Sparking EU Pushback
The United States has imposed sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese and eight International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, alongside court officials and Palestinian human rights organizations Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. The move, initiated by the White House under the Trump administration, stems from Albanese’s support for the ICC’s efforts to investigate potential crimes involving American or Israeli nationals.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly stated that Albanese is “unfit for service” due to her engagement with the ICC. The sanctions effectively bar Albanese from entering the US and freeze any assets she holds within the country.
Call for EU Action
In response, Courage International AISBL has launched a petition urging the European Union to challenge the US decision. The petition has already garnered nearly 10,000 signatures. The organization, which advocates for whistleblowers and journalists, condemned the sanctions as a chilling message: “Investigate genocide, speak up for international law, and we will destroy your life.”
They highlighted the broader impact of Executive Order 14203, which targets anyone collaborating with the ICC, leading to the loss of Albanese’s affiliations with Columbia and Georgetown Universities, the freezing of her assets, and the closure of bank accounts for sanctioned ICC judges.
“The US government is using Executive Order 14203 to stage a direct assault on international justice,” the organization stated. “By sanctioning eight of its eighteen judges, the US is crippling the ability of the ICC to bring war criminals to justice. By sanctioning the Palestinian civil society organizations that provide evidence to the ICC of Israeli war crimes, the US is obstructing justice and tampering with evidence of war crimes.”
EU Blocking Statute as a Potential Shield
Courage International AISBL is urging the EU to invoke the EU Blocking Statute (Council Regulation No. 2771/96), which prohibits EU entities from complying with illegal extraterritorial sanctions imposed by other countries. If activated against Executive Order 14203, European banks would be obligated to continue servicing sanctioned individuals, and EU companies would be prevented from terminating contracts or freezing assets to appease the US.
The organization’s call to action is clear: “We demand that the EU Commission immediately activate the Blocking Statute and update its Annex to include Executive Order 14203. Protect Albanese. Protect ICC judges. Defend international law.”
Albanese’s Response and ICC Arrest Warrants
On Twitter/X, Albanese expressed gratitude for the support of Courage International, stating, “In the face of UN’s inability and Italy’s unwillingness to protect me from the impact of US sanctions in Europe, I am glad #Courage is acting to defend me, ICC judges/prosecutors and Palestinian HR organisations. PLEASE SIGN the PETITION and share.”
The US action follows the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, concerning alleged war crimes in Gaza. Francesca Albanese has consistently advocated for greater support for Palestinian rights in the occupied territories.
Nobel Peace Prize Nomination
Last year, a petition advocating for Albanese to receive the Nobel Peace Prize garnered over one million signatures. She was nominated for the 2026 prize by Tunisia’s National Dialogue Quartet, the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL), and the International Civil Society Action Network (ICSAN) for her work in providing “vital legal clarity and ethical framing on the rights of civilians in armed conflict and in the face of genocide.”
