George Clooney’s Wife Faces U.S. Ban Over ICC Work Against Israel/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney could be barred from entering the U.S. due to her work with the International Criminal Court (ICC) on war crimes charges against Israeli leaders. A Trump administration executive order threatens sanctions, including travel bans, against ICC affiliates. Clooney, married to actor George Clooney, has been advising the ICC in its case involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Amal Clooney Sanctions Threat: Quick Looks
- Amal Clooney advised the ICC in Netanyahu war crimes probe
- Trump’s executive order may bar ICC-affiliated individuals from U.S.
- U.K. lawyers reportedly warned of sanctions, including Amal Clooney
- ICC charges relate to Israeli military actions after Hamas attack
- Trump calls ICC investigation “illegitimate” and a threat to U.S. allies
- Sanctions could include travel bans, asset freezes, and visa denials
- George and Amal Clooney own homes in the U.S., Italy, France, and U.K.
- The couple currently resides in NYC during Clooney’s Broadway run
- Amal practices law in both the U.K. and U.S., and was born in Lebanon
- ICC also charged Hamas leaders in response to October 7 attack
George Clooney’s Wife Faces U.S. Ban Over ICC Work Against Israel
Deep Look
Trump Sanctions May Bar Amal Clooney From U.S. Over ICC Case Targeting Netanyahu
NEW YORK — Amal Clooney, the high-profile British human rights lawyer and wife of actor George Clooney, could soon face a U.S. travel ban due to her work with the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to a report from the Financial Times.
Clooney, a dual-qualified barrister in the U.K. and U.S., has reportedly provided legal advice to the ICC as it pursues war crimes charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over Israel’s actions in Gaza following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack.
Under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February, individuals affiliated with the ICC who are deemed to be undermining U.S. foreign policy interests may face harsh sanctions, including travel bans, asset seizures, and visa denials.
Trump specifically condemned the ICC’s actions as “illegitimate and baseless,” asserting they unfairly target U.S. allies like Israel.
“The United States will impose tangible and significant consequences on those responsible for the ICC’s transgressions,” the order states, including “the suspension of entry into the United States of ICC officials, employees, and agents, as well as their immediate family members.”
Amal Clooney’s advisory role has reportedly drawn scrutiny from the U.K. Foreign Office, which recently warned several British lawyers — including Clooney — that participation in the ICC’s proceedings may expose them to U.S. sanctions under the new order.
The Clooneys, who have been married since 2014 and share two children, own homes in London, New York City, Lake Como, and the South of France. They are currently residing in Manhattan while George Clooney performs in a Broadway adaptation of Good Night, and Good Luck — a play based on the iconic 2005 film in which he also starred.
In a recent interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, George Clooney shared how much his family enjoys living in New York:
“They love being here. I mean, come on, how do you not love this? It’s New York City.” He added that the nighttime theater schedule allows for valuable time with his children during the day.
Though Amal Clooney has not publicly commented on the potential sanctions, George Clooney has long been an outspoken critic of authoritarianism and a vocal supporter of press freedom and international justice.
Amal Clooney’s potential barring from the U.S. underscores the growing global fallout from the Trump administration’s aggressive stance against international institutions it views as threatening to American sovereignty or its allies.
In addition to Netanyahu and Gallant, the ICC has also issued arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders — all of whom have since been killed — over the October 2023 attacks and subsequent violence.
U.S. sanctions have already been levied against ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, a British national, and several other ICC officials.
Amal Clooney, born in Lebanon and raised in Britain, is one of the world’s most prominent human rights attorneys, having previously worked on high-profile cases involving Yazidi genocide victims, jailed journalists, and global war crimes tribunals. Her involvement in the ICC’s Gaza investigation places her directly in the crosshairs of an escalating political clash between Washington, Tel Aviv, and The Hague.
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