The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) voted today, April 5, 2025, to extend Francesca Albanese’s role as Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories until April 30, 2028. The decision, made during a tense session in Geneva, keeps the Italian lawyer and outspoken critic of Israel’s policies in place for a full six-year term, sparking cheers from supporters and sharp backlash from opponents.
Albanese, who started as Special Rapporteur on May 1, 2022, got the green light for another three years after her initial term was set to end this month. The UNHRC didn’t release an official vote tally, but sources say it passed with a slim majority—enough to lock in her mandate under rules allowing country-specific rapporteurs like her to serve up to six years without a mid-term break. “She’s fearless,” one supporter posted on X, quoting her saying she can’t stay silent “in the face of genocide.” That’s the kind of fire that’s kept her in the spotlight—and in the crosshairs.
The move wasn’t a shock, but it wasn’t smooth either. Albanese has been a lightning rod since day one, slamming Israel’s occupation as illegal and, in her March 2024 report, calling its actions in Gaza a “genocide.” Her latest report last week doubled down, framing the violence as part of a long-term push to erase Palestinians from their land. Fans—human rights groups, Palestinian advocates—say she’s a truth-teller, with 65 scholars backing her in 2022 against what they called a smear campaign. Today, groups like Amnesty International Italy, who gave her props in 2023, are likely popping champagne.
But her critics are fuming. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon called it a “disgrace,” branding Albanese an “antisemite” who targets Jews, not just Israeli policy. The U.S., France, Germany, and others have slammed her too—U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield tweeted last October she’s “unfit” for the gig. Jewish groups like the World Jewish Congress and UN Watch pushed hard to block her, with UN Watch’s Hillel Neuer rallying democracies to say no, citing her “antisemitic rhetoric” and alleged Hamas ties. They didn’t win this round.
What’s the beef? Albanese’s big on calling out Israel—comparing Gaza to a “concentration camp” and questioning if October 7, 2023, was purely antisemitic (she says it’s tied to oppression). Critics point to old posts—like one from 2014 saying America’s “subjugated by the Jewish lobby”—as proof she’s crossed lines. She’s also under fire for a 2023 Australia trip some say pro-Palestinian groups funded, though she and her backers say the UN covered it. Supporters argue it’s all a hit job to silence her, with three ex-rapporteurs defending her last year against “slanderous” attacks.
For now, Albanese’s staying put. Her mandate’s safe until 2028, and she’s got work to do—pushing the International Criminal Court to probe Israel, urging states to act on her genocide claims. Israel’s already banned her from visiting, so she’ll keep relying on remote data and voices from the ground. Whether you see her as a hero or a villain, one thing’s clear: she’s not backing down, and neither are the folks fighting over her role. This UN vote’s just the latest chapter in a saga that’s got no end in sight.