Amal Clooney faces U.S. ban over 'War Crimes' case against Israel

Prominent human rights attorney Amal Clooney could soon find herself barred from entering the United States due to her involvement in efforts to bring international arrest warrants against Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Clooney’s participation in the International Criminal Court (ICC) case has drawn the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, which has already taken decisive action against ICC officials in defense of Israel.

In February, Trump imposed sanctions on ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and other top officials over what his administration labeled politically motivated warrants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. These sanctions were enacted through a combination of sweeping legislative tools, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act, and the Immigration and Nationality Act. The IEEPA grants the president significant powers, including the ability to freeze assets, block financial transactions, and deny entry to individuals perceived as threats to U.S. interests or its allies.

Now, reports indicate that the administration is preparing to widen the scope of these sanctions to include attorneys who contributed to the ICC’s case, a move that would directly impact Clooney. According to the Financial Times, the UK’s Foreign Office has already issued cautionary notices to several British lawyers involved in the ICC prosecution, warning them of potential U.S. sanctions. Amal Clooney, who joined a panel of international legal experts advising the ICC last year, is among those reportedly notified of the risk.

Clooney, 47, was born in Lebanon and raised in the United Kingdom. She and her husband, actor George Clooney, currently reside in New York with their seven-year-old twin children. The family’s U.S. residency could be jeopardized if sanctions move forward. George Clooney is presently starring on Broadway in a stage adaptation of the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck, portraying iconic journalist Edward R. Murrow in a retelling of his battle against McCarthyism.

If enacted, the sanctions would mark a significant escalation in the United States’ opposition to the ICC’s pursuit of Israeli officials, further entrenching tensions between international human rights bodies and U.S. foreign policy. For Amal Clooney, a globally recognized advocate for international justice, the repercussions could be both professional and personal as she balances her legal work with her family’s life in America.