Amal Clooney, the prominent international human rights lawyer and wife of actor George Clooney, could face a ban from entering the United States under proposed new sanctions by former President Donald Trump. The US government is reportedly considering these sanctions in connection with her legal work related to war crimes investigations involving Israeli and Hamas leaders.
According to a report from the Financial Times and information detailed by the Daily Mail, the UK Foreign Office has cautioned Amal Clooney and other senior British lawyers about the potential for sanctions. These sanctions would deny them entry into the US as a result of their involvement in legal matters before the International Criminal Court (ICC), particularly a war crimes case against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The sanctions stem from Executive Order 14203, signed by Trump in February 2024, which imposes measures against the ICC. This executive order was prompted by the ICC’s arrest warrants issued in May 2024 for Netanyahu and leaders of Hamas, following investigations into the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The order specifically names Karim Khan, a British ICC official and Prosecutor, and serves to combat what Trump described as “anti-Christian bias” and “illegitimate and baseless” charges brought against Netanyahu by the ICC. The sanctions include financial restrictions and travel bans targeting ICC officials and any individuals linked to these proceedings.
Amal Clooney, who has served as a special adviser to ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan during his investigation, is among those who could face these sanctions. The ICC, based in The Hague, is tasked with investigating and prosecuting war crimes, genocide, and other crimes against humanity. If sanctions are enforced, Clooney could be barred from travelling to the United States, where she and George Clooney maintain a residence.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, to a well-known Lebanese journalist and a Sunni-Muslim mother of Palestinian descent, Amal Clooney moved to the United Kingdom as a child during the Lebanese Civil War and later became a British citizen. She is qualified to practice law in both the United States and England and Wales, having been admitted to the New York bar in 2002.
Her legal career is distinguished by a focus on human rights, including representation of victims of mass atrocities such as genocide and sexual violence. She has contributed to landmark cases, including some of the first convictions of ISIS members for genocide and crimes against humanity. Amal Clooney also gained recognition for representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his extradition proceedings.
In 2024, she received the Legal 500 Award for International Lawyer of the Year. That same year, she publicly defended her role in the ICC-led actions against Israeli and Hamas leaders, stating: “I served on this Panel because I believe in the rule of law and the need to protect civilian lives. The law that protects civilians in war was developed more than 100 years ago and it applies in every country in the world regardless of the reasons for a conflict.”
Despite her advocacy, Clooney has faced criticism from some quarters, including social media users who accuse her of focusing more on her high-profile lifestyle than the plight of Palestinians. Meanwhile, others have contrasted her vocal stance on other international conflicts, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Daily Mail is reporting that representatives for George and Amal Clooney have been contacted for comment. The situation highlights increasing tensions surrounding the ICC’s role in investigating conflicts involving Israeli and Palestinian leadership and the corresponding political reactions internationally, particularly from the United States under Trump’s administration.
Source: Noah Wire Services