UN Rights Chief Urges Israel’s Next Government to Change Course

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged Israel’s next government on October 28 to change its wartime policies and comply with international humanitarian and human-rights law. Speaking at a press conference in New York, he called for it to “change course massively.” His comments concerned the government that will emerge after Israel’s election. Türk also opposed U.S. sanctions on UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese and the International Criminal Court. Answering a question about Albanese, he described those sanctions as unacceptable and contrary to international law, setting out his office’s position. He urged member states to use their influence to seek their removal. The American position was set out in Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s July 9, 2025 announcement sanctioning Albanese under Executive Order 14203. Rubio said she had sought ICC action against American and Israeli nationals despite neither country being a party to the Rome Statute. He accused her of antisemitism, support for terrorism and bias against Israel, and described her campaign as political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel. That announcement is the dated background to the sanctions dispute. Türk said he would address the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties in The Hague the following week. He said he intended to emphasize the court’s role in accountability. His appeal for member states to challenge the sanctions accompanied that planned appearance.