Hollywood star George Clooney reportedly called the White House to express his concern over US President Joe Biden's criticism of the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding its actions against Israeli leaders. Clooney's wife, Amal Clooney, a Lebanese British human rights lawyer, was involved in the case that led to the ICC seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Clooney called a senior aide to the president to voice his concerns about Biden's condemnation of the ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan. Biden had described the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants as 'outrageous' and suggested the possibility of imposing sanctions on the court. Clooney was also disheartened by the administration's initial willingness to impose sanctions on the ICC, as his wife could potentially be affected by any penalties [159c886f].
The move by George Clooney to contact the White House highlights the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding the ICC's actions and the reactions of world leaders. The involvement of high-profile figures like Clooney adds to the complexity of the situation and raises questions about the role of celebrities in international affairs. It also underscores the broader implications of the ICC's actions for diplomatic relations and the pursuit of justice [159c886f].
In a related development, the United States is reportedly pressuring the UK's new Labor government not to drop a legal challenge over the International Criminal Court's pursuit of an arrest warrant against the Israeli Prime Minister for war crimes in the Gaza Strip. The US, not being a member of the ICC, expects the UK to look after its interests there. The previous government under Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak challenged the ICC on whether it had jurisdiction to issue the arrest warrants for top Israeli officials, including Benjamin Netanyahu. The ICC ruled in 2021 that it did have jurisdiction over Israeli activity in Palestine. The UK's Foreign Office argued that the Oslo Accords agreement precludes Palestine from prosecuting Israelis, but the ICC prosecutor is not a delegate of Palestine. The decision on the arrest warrants can be expected in August at the earliest [2601a4c0].
However, the UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has announced that it will not intervene in the International Criminal Court's (ICC) request for an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, accused Netanyahu, Gallant, and three Hamas leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel. The UK's decision is a reversal of plans announced by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Some British Jewish organisations have denounced the decision, while Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have condemned the move as disgraceful and antisemitic. The UK's decision puts it at odds with the US, but Starmer's office described it as based on a strong belief in the separation of powers and the rule of law. Starmer has been under pressure to take a tougher stand on the Gaza crisis, but the issue is tricky for him and his party due to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, protests in London, and antisemitic incidents. The UK's decision could make it harder for Netanyahu and Gallant to travel, but they do not face immediate prosecution as Israel is not a member of the ICC. Starmer's position on Israel has been evolving away from that of the US, and he has restored funding for the UN's Palestine relief agency and expressed support for the recognition of a Palestinian state [512b6e24].