The United Nations special rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, will remain under US sanctions for now after a US appeals court on Tuesday temporarily allowed the measures imposed by the Trump administration to stay in place.
The decision came in a lawsuit brought by Albanese's family challenging the sanctions. The appeals judges found that the measures could remain in effect while the case proceeds, according to court documents. A final decision is still pending.
The administration of US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Albanese in July 2025. In a statement outlining the sanctions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: "Albanese has spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed support for terrorism, and open contempt for the United States, Israel, and the West."
The administration said she had contacted the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prompt investigations or arrests of US or Israeli nationals without the consent of the two countries. Neither country is a member of the court. Previously, Trump had issued an executive order targeting ICC members.
The appeals court's decision reverses an earlier ruling in Albanese's favour, in which judges had cited free-speech protections under the US Constitution.
However, the appeals judges have now expressed doubts about whether those protections can be invoked by foreign nationals, siding for now with the US government's argument. Albanese is an Italian citizen.
The family's lawyer had argued that the sanctions froze assets, cut Albanese off from banking services, left her without health insurance and cost her professional relationships in the US that had been built up over years.
Albanese has frequently drawn criticism over her comments on the Gaza war and Israel.
In February this year the foreign ministers of Germany and France sharply criticized comments she made and called for her to resign.
