Francesca Albanese ‘removed’ as affiliated scholar of Georgetown University

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) December 21, 2025

At an event in Sicily on August 8, 2025, captured on video, Albanese said: “People continue to say, ‘But Hamas, Hamas, Hamas…’ I don’t think people have any idea what Hamas is.

“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.

“It is critical that you understand, that when you think of Hamas, you should not necessarily think of cut-throats, people armed to the teeth, or fighters. It’s not like that.”

In July 2014, Albanese fundraised for her former employer Unrwa by posting that America was “subjugated by the Jewish lobby.”

She later apologised for using the “Jewish lobby” phrase. She told Piers Morgan on his show she was “was absolutely wrong” for using the term and has since “distanced” herself from it, ever since she learnt “how people, especially Jewish people, feel offended” by it.

Commenting on her removal from Georgetown University’s website, Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, said: “We welcome Georgetown University’s decision. 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.

“This sends an important message,” he added. “Positions of authority at the United Nations do not grant immunity from accountability, and universities should not serve as safe havens for those who abuse their platforms to promote hatred."

Although UN Watch have claimed credit for her removal, another possible cause are the US sanctions which were placed on Albanese in July – making her the first member of the UN to face such action.  

Explaining the reason for the sanction, Marco Rubio, the Secretary of state, said: “The United States has repeatedly condemned and objected to the biased and malicious activities of Albanese that have long made her unfit for service as a special rapporteur.

"Albanese has spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed support for terrorism and open contempt for the United States, Israel and the West.”

In the months since, Albanese has given a series of interviews bemoaning the impact of the US sanctions, at one point explaining: “It's really impairing as a person. It creates a chilling effect around you, because anyone who engages with a US-sanctioned person risks to be arrested and to be subjected to very heavy fines.”

“The UN must now follow Georgetown’s lead and remove Albanese,” Neuer added. “There ought to be no place in the human rights system for officials who promote hatred and excuse terrorism.”

Albanese denies being antisemitic and has claimed that such allegations have been “weaponised” against her.

Georgetown University and Francesca Albanese have been contacted for comment.