Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, has faced death threats, family danger, and US sanctions after accusing Israel of genocide in a March 2024 report. The Italian lawyer, who is one of over 40 unpaid UN experts, described her life as a 'rollercoaster' since publishing 'Anatomy of a Genocide'. She has been lionised by supporters but demonised by the Trump administration.
Albanese's report followed the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people, and Israel's subsequent military campaign that has killed over 75,000 Palestinians in Gaza, displaced more than 90% of the population, and destroyed much of the territory. She was the first UN official to label the campaign a genocide, also condemning Western states and corporations she says have abetted it.
In response, the Trump administration designated Albanese a 'specially designated national'—a term usually reserved for terrorists and drug traffickers—making her the first UN official to receive such a label. The sanctions prohibit any US person or entity from providing her with funds, goods, or services, effectively a 'civil death'. Her Washington apartment has been seized, and she can no longer use credit cards globally, relying on cash or borrowing from friends.
Albanese also accuses pro-Israel activists in Geneva of targeting her husband, Massimiliano Calì, a senior World Bank economist, leading to his removal from leading the Syria file. She called the World Bank 'completely craven'. Calì and their 13-year-old daughter, a US citizen, are suing Trump and administration officials in federal court, citing violations of constitutional rights. Albanese cannot bring the case herself due to UN policy, but US law professors have filed an amicus brief warning of a 'chilling effect' on free speech.
Despite the threats, Albanese's status has risen among some as a popular hero, part of a resurgence of left-wing activism spurred by Gaza outrage. She continues to speak out, but acknowledges the personal toll: 'My life has become a rollercoaster.'
