Sanchez awards Francesca Albanese with the Order of Civil Merit: “She defends international law in Gaza”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has decorated Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, with the Order of Civil Merit. The ceremony took place at La Moncloa, the seat of the Spanish government, in recognition of her “extensive work in documenting and denouncing violations of international law in Gaza.”

This stance confirms the growing friction between Madrid and Washington regarding the conflict in Gaza and reignites the European debate on the role of international institutions in the face of geopolitical pressure from major powers.

During the meeting, Sanchez and Albanese discussed the situation in Palestine and the need for an immediate cessation of violence, agreeing on the importance of defending the impartial application of international law and the independence of multilateral institutions.

Sanchez’s gesture is not an isolated one: the previous day, the Prime Minister had written to the European Commission requesting the activation of the Blocking Statute. This legal instrument would render U.S. sanctions imposed against Albanese, as well as against judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court, ineffective within Europe.

Photo Frederic Marvaux Copyright: © European Union 2023 – Source : EP