Federal judge freezes sanctions against UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese, claiming it violated the foreign national’s constitutional rights to free speech.By World Israel News StaffA federal judge in Washington temporarily blocked US sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, ruling that the Trump administration likely violated her free-speech rights.US District Judge Richard Leon issued a preliminary injunction Wednesday, finding that the sanctions appeared to target Albanese’s speech because of the “idea or message expressed.” The sanctions had barred Albanese, an Italian lawyer, from entering the United States and using US banking services.Albanese has been one of the UN’s most outspoken critics of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and has called for International Criminal Court action against Israeli and American nationals. She has also sparked controversy over her denial of Hamas atrocities against Israeli civilians.Israel and the United States have accused her of antisemitism, bias and extremist rhetoric, allegations she has denied.Leon said Albanese’s residence outside the United States did not by itself strip her of First Amendment protections, given her ties to the country, including property in Washington and family connections.Reuters reported that the judge found the administration had sought to regulate her speech because of the “idea or message expressed.”The case was brought in February by Albanese’s husband, Massimiliano Calì, and their daughter, a US citizen. The lawsuit said the sanctions were “effectively debanking her and making it nearly impossible to meet the needs of her daily life.”The complaint argued that the sanctions violated First, Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights, unreasonably seized property without due process and exceeded the administration’s legal authority.Calì and Albanese own a home in Washington, DC, and the complaint said the sanctions blocked access to that property and disrupted family and professional life.The Trump administration imposed the sanctions in July 2025 under an executive order targeting those accused of assisting International Criminal Court action against US or allied nationals.Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the time that “Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated,” adding, “We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense.”According to the complaint, Albanese does not work for the ICC and has no authority over its decisions, but has supported ICC investigations through statements, reports and correspondence as part of her UN role. The complaint said her ability to influence the court “extends only to the persuasiveness of her advocacy.”The Justice Department and State Department have defended the sanctions, arguing that Albanese’s actions went beyond protected criticism.A State Department spokesperson previously called the lawsuit baseless and said, “The United States will continue to condemn and oppose her biased and malicious activities, which have long made her unfit for her role,” calling Albanese “a disgrace.”Albanese has described the sanctions as part of a broader effort to weaken international accountability mechanisms.In an Associated Press interview after the sanctions were imposed, she said, “It’s very serious to be on the list of the people sanctioned by the US.”The ruling does not end the lawsuit, but it suspends the sanctions while the case proceeds. The administration can still appeal the injunction.The monitory group UN Watch downplayed the impact of Wednesday’s decision.“It is important to be clear about this ruling. This is only a preliminary injunction issued at an early stage of litigation,” said the group’s executive director Hillel Neuer.“The court has not issued a final ruling on the merits of the case, nor has it vindicated Francesca Albanese’s conduct or statements. The decision temporarily pauses enforcement of sanctions while the litigation proceeds.”The post Judge blocks Trump’s sanctions on UN official accused of antisemitism appeared first on World Israel News.