THE United States has removed sanctions against UN special rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territory Francesca Albanese, a week after a federal judge ruled the measures restricted her freedom of speech.

The US Treasury Department listed Ms Albanese’s name under “International Criminal Court-related Designation Removal” on Wednesday, following a temporary injunction issued by US District Judge Richard Leon in response to a case filed by her husband and daughter in February.

The lawsuit argued the sanctions were imposed as punishment for her public advocacy against Israel’s human rights abuses.

Mr Leon found the Trump administration had sought to regulate Ms Albanese’s speech because of the “idea or message expressed,” adding that her International Criminal Court recommendations were “nothing more than her opinion.”

The sanctions were imposed last year after Ms Albanese published a report accusing 48 companies of complicity in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, including US tech giants Microsoft, Alphabet (Google’s parent company) and Amazon.

The Trump administration accused her of “biased and malicious activities” and “lawfare.”

Ms Albanese had previously said the sanctions were “calculated to weaken my mission.”

Under President Trump, Washington has wielded sanctions to pressure advocates for Palestinians and other causes, including climate change.