US protests against renewal of term for human rights rapporteur for Palestinian territories

The United States expressed outrage Thursday over the possible renewal of Francesca Albanese’s mandate as U.N. special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories. In a post on X, the U.S. mission to the U.N. announced it had sent a letter to Secretary-General António Guterres protesting the decision.

“We condemn her virulent anti-Semitism, which demonizes Israel and supports Hamas,” the U.S. mission stated. “She has clearly violated the U.N. code of conduct and is not fit to hold this position. Renewing her would signal that the organization tolerates anti-Semitic hate and support for terrorism.”

This stance aligns with that of about 40 French parliamentarians who, on March 28, sent a letter to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urging him to “firmly oppose” Albanese’s renewal. The decision, initially scheduled for April 1, was postponed to Friday. Her recent remarks about Israel are part of a series of controversial statements, often marked by radical rhetoric, inappropriate comparisons, and a stance perceived as systematically hostile toward Israel, according to the lawmakers.

An Italian professor of international law and a staunch advocate for Palestinian rights, Albanese has documented since at least 2015 what she describes as “Israeli war crimes and genocidal acts in Gaza.”

Albanese’s mandate will ultimately be subject to a vote at the U.N. Human Rights Council on April 4 to determine whether it will be extended until 2028 for an additional three-year term. While initial appointments are made by anonymous vote, a second term requires a majority vote from the council’s 47 members.

U.N. special rapporteurs investigate, document, and report on specific human rights situations in certain countries or regarding particular issues. They may also conduct field visits to assess conditions and engage with local authorities.