The US is imposing sanctions on the UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur Francesca Albanese due to her criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza and her support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), some of whose judges have already been sanctioned by Washington.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio accuses Albanese of directly engaging with the ICC in its efforts to prosecute American or Israeli nationals, making her unfit for service as a UN Special Rapporteur.

The sanctions will prevent Albanese from traveling to the US and block any assets she has in the country.

Albanese, an Italian-born special rapporteur, did not address the sanctions directly but emphasized her commitment to justice.

Critics accuse her of antisemitism and support for terrorism, while supporters argue that Western governments are not doing enough to support Palestinian rights.

The move is likely to provoke a strong reaction from those advocating accountability for civilian deaths in Gaza.

Albanese has called on multinational companies to cease business with Israel, accusing them of complicity in war crimes.

The Israeli government rejects her accusations, calling them 'groundless.'