Extract from ABC News
Francesca Albanese recently authored a report calling out corporations "profiting from genocide". (AAP: Lukas Coch)
In short:
The US has placed sanctions on human rights lawyer Francesca Albanese, the UN's special rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says it is in response to her efforts to have American and Israeli figures prosecuted by the International Criminal Court, which he describes as "sanctioning lawfare".
The announcement coincides with a visit to Washington by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for whom the court issued a war crimes arrest warrant last year.
Francesca Albanese recently spoke to the ABC about Israel's seizure of a Gaza aid flotilla carrying advocate Greta Thunberg.
Earlier this month, Ms Albanese released a report critical of companies connected to Israel's military campaign in Gaza and its West Bank settlements deemed illegal under international law.
"Far too many corporate entities have profited from Israel's economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and now, genocide," the report says.
"The complicity exposed by this report is just the tip of the iceberg; ending it will not happen without holding the private sector accountable, including its executives."
After the sanctions announcement, Ms Albanese, who is Italian, wrote on social media:
"Just to be sure, on this day more than ever: I stand firmly and convincingly on the side of justice, as I have always done.
"I come from a country with a tradition of illustrious legal scholars, talented lawyers and courageous judges who have defended justice at great cost and often with their own life. I intend to honour that tradition."
In February, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), which last year issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, as well as several Hamas leaders.
The arrest warrants accuse the Israeli leaders of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the use of starvation as a method of war. They were issued on the advice of a panel of human rights experts and international barristers.
The warrants mean the 125 countries that are party to the ICC — including Australia, but not Israel or the US — have a legal obligation to arrest Mr Netanyahu or Mr Gallant if they enter those countries.
Mr Trump's February order targeting the ICC also coincided with a visit to Washington by Mr Netanyahu.
Mr Rubio cited Ms Albanese's support for the ICC arrest warrants when he announced the sanctions.
Referring to the international treaty that founded the ICC, Ms Albanese wrote:
"Also: it is called the Rome Statute for a reason, and I am proud of it."
The ICC is independent of, but commonly confused with, the UN's International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is considering a genocide case against Israel.
Israel denies it is committing genocide, and says its operation in Gaza — which has killed an estimated 60,000 people — is legitimate self-defence following the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023.
In November 2023, Ms Albanese visited Australia as a guest of the Australian Friends of Palestine Association, delivering the Edward Said Memorial Lecture in Adelaide and addressing organisations including the National Press Club.
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