Exclusive: Berlin’s mayor slams city’s university for hosting Francesca Albanese on Gaza ‘genocide’ panel

Rich Goldberg, a senior advisor at The Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD) who previously served on the White House National Security Council – has suggested the university could be violating US sanctions by hosting Albanese.   

Speaking to the JC, he said: “Hopefully every party involved in this event has a very good sanctions lawyer because there are multiple ways in which they could tripping U.S. sanctions wires.

“Is she getting an honorarium? Is someone reimbursing her travel? Is there any other kind of transaction involved? If they aren’t careful, they'll be the next entities sanctioned for material support to a designated person.”

Albanese is due to speak on a panel titled Forensic and Counter-Forensic Approaches to Reconstructing International Law – A Cartography and Anatomy of Genocide in a pre-conference workshop of the European Society of International Law’s (ESIL) annual conference, being held at the Free University from 10 – 13 September.

According to ESIL, “this workshop will examine the interplay between legal and forensic analysis of the crime of genocide in Gaza.

“It will explore how forensic investigations – including satellite imagery, open-source intelligence, digital modeling, and counter-mapping – reshape evidentiary practices and redefine accountability in international law.”

Since taking office in May 2022, Albanese has been criticised for a number of statements about alleged “Jewish power”, Israel and Hamas.

In 2014, Albanese said: “America and Europe, one of them subjugated by the Jewish lobby, and the other by the sense of guilt about the Holocaust.” When uncovered in 2022, US Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt, called her statement “blatantly antisemitic.” Albanese has since said that she regrets this remark.

In June 2022, she said: “The Palestinians have no other room for dissent than violence,” a sentiment she echoed on October 7 when she wrote on X: “Today’s violence must be put in context.”

In February 2024, in response to French President Emmanuel Macron referring to the October 7 massacre as “the largest antisemitic massacre of our century,” Albanese wrote: “The greatest antisemitic massacre of our century? No, Emmanuel Macron. The victims of 7/10 were not killed because of their Judaism but in response to Israel’s oppression.” Six months later, she called Gaza a “concentration camp of the 21st century.”

Albanese’s stance has not gone unnoticed by the international community. Following her response to President Macron, the governments of France and Germany both condemned her statements.

Responding on X, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs posted: “The October 7 massacre is the largest anti-Semitic massacre of the 21st century. To deny it is wrong. To seem to justify it, by bringing in the name of the United Nations, is a shame.”

The German foreign office were quick to lend their support, quote-tweeting France to say: “To justify the horrific terror attacks of 7/10 & deny their antisemitic nature is appalling. Making such statements in a UN capacity is a disgrace and goes against everything the United Nations stand for.”

Going a step further, in July this year, the United States imposed sanctions on her citing her “unabashed antisemitism”.

In a press statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained: “Albanese has directly engaged with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel, without the consent of those two countries. Neither the United States nor Israel is party to the Rome Statute, making this action a gross infringement on the sovereignty of both countries.”

He went on: “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.”

This will be the second time this year that the Free University has hosted Albanese. Defending this decision, a spokesperson told the JC: “Science and research thrive off of debate and sharing ideas, and sometimes those ideas can be controversial. Universities have a duty to provide a space to discuss topics that demand articulate arguments and complex perspectives – a space for open dialogue and critical thinking.

“The principle of academic freedom is enshrined in Germany’s Basic Law under Article 5 Paragraph 3. This constitutional right covers the right of researchers to independently decide which topics, formats, or guests they wish to include when organizing academic events.”

Similarly, ESIL responded to inquiries, stating: “The European Society of International Law (ESIL) has an unwavering commitment to academic freedom and open scholarly debate. We are a learned society committed to the study of international law, and... our duty is to ensure and to safeguard a space to discuss topics that demand articulate arguments and complex perspectives – a space for open dialogue and critical thinking.”

They did not confirm whether they are funding her travel, accommodation, or paying her a speaker’s fee.