The United States’ move to sanction Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, has drawn sharp condemnation as yet another attempt to shield Israel from accountability. At the heart of the outrage is a simple truth: Albanese is being punished not for misconduct, but for documenting genocide.

Albanese’s work has been among the clearest voices detailing the Israeli campaign of extermination in Gaza. Her reports, rooted in international law, have named the crimes and called for justice. In response, Washington has accused her of “disgraceful” conduct and sought her removal, a signal that exposing war crimes is now treated as a hostile act.

The sanctions reflect a growing pattern: silencing those who speak for the victims, while offering cover to those who commit the crimes. The U.S. not only backs Israel militarily and diplomatically, but now targets international figures attempting to hold it accountable. In doing so, it positions itself not as a neutral actor, but as an enabler of atrocities.

Albanese herself has responded with resolve, rejecting what she called “mafia-style intimidation.” Meanwhile, international voices continue to demand answers, not only from Israel, but from European nations whose complicity has been quietly ignored.

As Gaza bleeds into its 21st month of siege and slaughter, the moral cost of silence and complicity deepens. Sanctioning those who seek justice does not erase the evidence. It only strengthens the case against those who are trying to bury it.