The Trump administration announced on Wednesday it is imposing sanctions on United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who has investigated human rights abuses in Gaza and the West Bank since 2022.

“Today I am imposing sanctions on U.N. Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt The International Criminal Court [ICC] action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X. “Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated. We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense.”

In his official statement, Rubio said the decision follows an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump sanctioning the ICC.

In November last year, the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

 Albanese publicly supported the move.

Seen as a staunch advocate for Palestinian rights, Albanese has pushed for accountability from both American and Israeli officials over alleged human rights abuses and, in her words, genocide in Gaza.

The decision to impose sanctions came after Albanese published a new report, accusing U.S. corporations of profiting off the war on Gaza and displacement of Palestinians.

Since the start of the conflict, she has published several reports addressing the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip.

In October 2023, Albanese condemned Israeli airstrikes in the enclave as part of the country’s “illegality, impunity” and urged to end its “forever occupation” of Palestinians.

In another report issued last year, she said Israel’s war conduct could amount to genocide.

In an interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday, Albanese responded to the sanctions by saying, “Mafia intimidation techniques,” and added, “of course I’ve been critical of Israel. It has been committing genocide and crimes against humanity and war crimes.”

The move by the Trump administration, which made Albanese the first U.N. official to be sanctioned by the U.S., was condemned by U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk.

“Even in face of fierce disagreement, U.N. Member States should engage substantively and constructively, rather than resort to punitive measures,” Turk said.