The United States has imposed sanctions on the United Nations expert who investigates human rights abuses in occupied Palestinian territories, the latest effort by the Trump administration to punish those who criticize Israel's war in the Gaza Strip.

In a significant escalation of tensions, the United States under the Trump administration has imposed targeted sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories,

The United States has announced sanctions against Francesca Albanese, a senior United Nations Human Rights Council official, for her vocal criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the sanctions targeted Albanese for what he called her "illegitimate and shameful efforts" to prompt investigations by the International Criminal Court into U.