A United Nations watchdog organization has urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, due to allegations of antisemitism. Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, argued that Albanese's reappointment was illegal and that she should be stripped of diplomatic immunity, citing her purported pro-Hamas stance and misuse of her platform to spread antisemitic sentiments. Despite these accusations, Pascal Sim, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Council, clarified that Albanese's appointment was in accordance with UN rules and she is eligible to serve until April 2028. The controversy has drawn criticism from various quarters, including the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, which has expressed concerns about Albanese's past statements comparing Gaza to the Holocaust. The Anti-Defamation League has documented several instances of Albanese's alleged antisemitic remarks, further fueling the debate over her suitability for the role.

UN Watch, led by Hillel Neuer, has requested that the U.S. government impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, due to allegations of her antisemitic conduct and support for Hamas.

Neuer claims that Albanese's reappointment was carried out illegally and urges the denial of her visa access and the removal of her diplomatic immunity, arguing that her actions constitute procedural malpractice.

Pascal Sim, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Council, defended Albanese's appointment, stating that it was conducted according to UN rules, allowing her to serve a term that could last up to six years.

Rep. Brian Mast of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee has also criticized Albanese, accusing her of using her UN position to legitimize antisemitic tropes and portraying her as an apologist for Hamas.

The Anti-Defamation League has compiled a list of antisemitic and anti-Israel statements made by Albanese, highlighting her controversial remarks, such as comparing the war in Gaza to the Holocaust and describing the Gaza Strip as a 'concentration camp of the 21st century.'

Neuer referenced recent legal precedents that could allow for action against Albanese, pointing to the DOJ's decision to permit lawsuits against the UNRWA as a potential model for handling her case.

Despite the calls for sanctions, the UN Human Rights Council maintains that there has been no formal reappointment process, asserting that mandate-holders like Albanese are appointed for terms not exceeding six years.