The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza, who is leading an investigation into alleged human rights violations in the Palestinian territories — marking the latest US effort to target critics of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

This move follows a failed US campaign to pressure the United Nations into removing Albanese from her post. The sanctions come during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington for talks with President Trump and other senior officials, primarily focused on the 21-month conflict in Gaza.

It remains unclear what tangible impact the sanctions will have or whether Albanese will be able to travel to the United States under diplomatic immunity.

5 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza while strikes kill 51 Palestinians

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Malaysia, confirmed that the US and Russia have exchanged fresh ideas aimed at reviving peace talks on Ukraine. After a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Rubio said the discussions offered a “new and different approach,” although no concrete breakthroughs were disclosed.

The Kremlin, for its part, stated that renewed US arms deliveries to Ukraine and President Trump’s stronger rhetoric would not derail potential peace negotiations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s preference for diplomatic solutions but confirmed military operations would continue unless Kyiv agrees to resume direct talks.

Source: Agency