Francesca Albanese Removed from Georgetown Amid Controversy

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on Palestinian territories, has been removed from her position as an affiliated scholar at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. This decision follows a campaign led by UN Watch, a Geneva-based non-governmental organization, which has been vocal about its concerns regarding Albanese’s past statements and actions that it deems supportive of terrorism and antisemitism.

The university’s move to remove Albanese from its roster has been confirmed by UN Watch, which reported that her name has been eliminated from the “Other Affiliated Scholars” section of the Georgetown University Institute for the Study of International Migration. Screenshots provided by UN Watch indicate that Albanese also had a dedicated biography page that has since been taken down.

During a public event in Sicily on August 8, 2025, Albanese made comments about Hamas, suggesting that many people misunderstand the organization. She stated, “Hamas is a political force that won the 2005 elections—whether we like it or not. Hamas built schools, public facilities, hospitals. It was simply the authority, the de facto authority.” Albanese urged listeners to reconsider their perceptions of Hamas, indicating that the group should not solely be viewed through the lens of violence.

Albanese’s past has been marked by controversy. In July 2014, she faced backlash for comments made while fundraising for her former employer, UNRWA, where she claimed that America was “subjugated by the Jewish lobby.” Although she later apologized for using the term, her history has been scrutinized amid her current role with the UN.

Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, praised Georgetown’s decision, stating, “Academic institutions have a responsibility to uphold basic standards of integrity and human dignity. Removing an official who has repeatedly trafficked in antisemitic rhetoric and justified terrorism is a necessary step toward restoring those standards.” Neuer emphasized that the decision sends an important message about accountability for those in positions of authority within the United Nations.

While UN Watch has taken credit for Albanese’s removal, another factor may be the recent sanctions imposed by the United States. In July 2023, Albanese became the first UN official to face such sanctions. Marco Rubio, a prominent U.S. senator, explained that the U.S. has condemned Albanese’s activities, describing them as biased and malicious. He stated, “Albanese has spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed support for terrorism and open contempt for the United States, Israel and the West.”

Since the sanctions, Albanese has expressed her concerns in various interviews, describing the situation as creating a “chilling effect” on her personal and professional interactions. She noted, “It creates a chilling effect around you, because anyone who engages with a U.S.-sanctioned person risks being arrested and subjected to very heavy fines.”

Neuer has called for the UN to follow Georgetown’s example and remove Albanese from her role, asserting, “There ought to be no place in the human rights system for officials who promote hatred and excuse terrorism.” Albanese has consistently denied the allegations of antisemitism, claiming that they have been “weaponised” against her.

Georgetown University and Francesca Albanese have been approached for comments regarding this development.