Trump Administration Considers Sanctions Against Amal Clooney for ICC Involvement.
Amal Clooney, the renowned British lawyer and human rights advocate, may face a ban from entering the United States due to her involvement in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to charge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with war crimes related to the conflict in Gaza.
As reported by the Financial Times, the UK Foreign Office has warned that several senior lawyers involved in the case could face sanctions from the U.S. government under the Trump administration. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant in November, leading to strong condemnation from former President Donald Trump.
In response, Trump signed an executive order in February, which imposed financial sanctions and visa restrictions on ICC officials and their families, calling the charges “baseless.” While the only person named in the sanctions so far is ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, a British citizen, could soon be targeted as well.
Clooney, 47, who is married to actor George Clooney, was part of an international legal expert panel that reviewed the evidence against Netanyahu and Gallant. The panel concluded that the ICC had jurisdiction over crimes committed during Israel’s conflict with Hamas and advised that leaders from both sides should be held accountable.
Should sanctions be extended to Clooney, she may face a travel ban to the U.S., where she lives with her husband and their twin daughters.
The ICC’s arrest warrants accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of depriving Gaza civilians of basic needs, violating international humanitarian law. The court also issued a warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, who is believed to have been a key planner of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. This attack led to 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals. It was later confirmed that Deif was killed in a targeted strike in July.
As of now, Netanyahu and Gallant are subject to arrest in any of the 124 nations that have signed the 1998 Rome Statute, including the UK, France, and Austria.
Neither the White House nor representatives for Amal Clooney have made a public statement regarding the possible sanctions.
