The US says it has not changed its decision on punishing Francesca Albanese Israel-Palestine War News

The Trump administration approved a human rights expert for criticizing Israel but was forced to reverse the court’s decision.

The United States has denied that removal of penalty against Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Palestinian territory, is making changes in the government’s policies.

On Thursday, the State Department explained that the administration of President Donald Trump had only removed Albanese from the sanctions list because of the latest. court order.

“The government has appealed the court order,” the State Department added in a statement, before reaffirming its intention to return the Albanians to the list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs).

“If the DC Circuit upholds or overturns this order, the Government intends to reinstate Ms Albanese’s name on the SDN list.”

The Trump administration Albanian list and sanctions in July 2025, after recommending that the International Criminal Court (ICC). construction documents to Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Albanese, a human rights expert, has been critical of Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians, and has reported on Israeli killings in Gaza.

The death toll in Palestine in a narrow area is expected more than 75,000.

Although Albanese is Italian, his daughter is a US citizen, and has assets in the country.

In February, his family presented a criminal complaint in the United States Court of Appeal in Washington, DC, wants to cancel the sanctions for violating the Albanians’ constitutional rights, including the freedom of speech.

The trial saw Albanese lose access to his bank account and home, as well as financial systems linked to the US.

“At its heart, this case is about whether Defendants will allow someone – to destroy their lives and the lives of their loved ones, including their daughter – because Defendants disagree with their views or fear their influence,” the lawsuit said.

On May 13, US District Judge Richard Leon sided with the plaintiffs, giving the first order to stop the punishments in Albanese.

Leon, who was appointed by Republican President George W Bush, said in his ruling that the government wanted to control Albanese because of the “idea or message expressed” in his speech.

The judge wrote: “Mr Albanese has done nothing more than talk. There is no doubt that his opinion has no influence on what the ICC is doing – it is nothing but his opinion.”

Albanese is one of several international people, including ICC judges, who are under the supervision of the US and retaliatory sanctions for his involvement in crimes against Israeli soldiers.

Many freedom groups, scholars and experts have confirmed Albanese’s point that Israel’s actions in Gaza. committing genocide.

But the Trump administration accuses him of “biased and malicious actions” that have “made him unfit to serve”. It has also criticized the ICC for “lawlessness” for issuing an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and his former minister Yoav Gallant.