EU "deeply regrets" US sanctions on UN expert on Palestinians, says EU spokesperson

The US has sanctioned the UN expert over work allegedly prompting illegal prosecution of Israelis

UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese gives a press conference at the UN City in Copenhagen, Denmark Feb 5, 2025. Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard via REUTERS/File Photo

The European Union "deeply regrets" the US decision to impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, an EU spokesperson said on Friday.

"We deeply regret the decision to impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese", spokesperson Anouar El Anouni told reporters during a daily EU briefing, adding that the European Union "strongly supports the United Nations human rights system."

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Albanese would be added to the US sanctions list for work which had prompted what he described as illegitimate prosecutions of Israelis at the International Criminal Court.

Albanese has been a vocal critic of Israel's treatment of Palestinians, and recently published a report accusing over 60 companies, including some US firms, of supporting Israeli settlements in the West Bank and military actions in Gaza.