A US federal judge has temporarily blocked sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on Francesca Albanese, the UN expert on the occupied Palestinian territories. The ruling was issued Wednesday by District Judge Richard Leon.
Albanese, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory since 2022, was sanctioned by the US in July 2025. The stated reason was her public criticism of Washington's policy regarding Israel's war in Gaza and her suggestion that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecute Israeli and US officials for war crimes.
The sanctions bar Albanese from entering the US, using US banking and payment systems, and prohibit anyone in the US from transacting with her. Her husband and daughter, a US citizen, filed suit against the Trump administration in February 2026, arguing that the sanctions aim to punish her for drawing attention to Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians.
In his ruling, Judge Leon said the Trump administration sought to control Albanese's speech because of “the ideas or message expressed.” He wrote: “Albanese did nothing more than speak… Her recommendations have no binding effect on the ICC's actions—they are merely her opinion.” The judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the sanctions.
Albanese, who has called the sanctions “deliberately designed to undermine my mandate,” celebrated the ruling on social media. She wrote: “Thank you to my daughter and husband for standing up for me, and to all who have helped so far. Together, we are one.”
