Amal Clooney, a prominent human rights lawyer, faces potential restrictions on entering the United States, where she occasionally resides with her husband, actor George Clooney, and their twins. This situation arises from her involvement in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024.

The UK Foreign Office has cautioned several senior British barristers, including Clooney, about the risk of facing sanctions from President Donald Trump’s administration due to their participation in the case.

In February 2025, President Trump issued an executive order imposing sanctions on ICC officials, employees, and their immediate family members. This order includes financial penalties and visa restrictions against those linked to the court’s decision.

Currently, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan is the only individual specifically mentioned in Trump’s executive action. Khan had initially advocated for the arrest warrants against the Israeli leaders in May 2024.

If Amal Clooney, a British national of Lebanese descent, becomes subject to these sanctions, she might be barred from entering the U.S., where she lives with George Clooney, whom she married in September 2014, and their seven-year-old twins.

Clooney was instrumental in the ICC’s decision after being invited to join a panel of international legal experts last year. The panel reviewed evidence of suspected war crimes in Israel and Gaza.

The panel concluded that the ICC had jurisdiction over crimes committed during Israel’s conflict with Hamas and recommended accountability for both Hamas and Israeli leaders.

In November 2024, the ICC declared there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant “intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable for their survival,” according to court documents.

The warrants charge Netanyahu and Gallant with “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, as well as crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.”

The ICC also pursued an arrest warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, who orchestrated the October 7, 2023, attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel and 251 hostages taken. Israeli authorities later confirmed Deif’s death in a targeted strike in July 2024. Hamas confirmed his death on January 30, 2025, leading the ICC to cancel the warrant on February 26, 2025.

Netanyahu and Gallant risk arrest in any of the 124 countries that have ratified the 1998 Rome Statute, including Austria, the United Kingdom, and France.

President Trump has expressed strong opposition to the ICC’s actions. In his executive order, he stated that the ICC engaged in “illegitimate and baseless actions” by asserting jurisdiction over personnel from the United States and its ally Israel, neither of which are parties to the ICC’s Rome Statute.

The executive order argued that this conduct “threatens the sovereignty of the United States and undermines its national security and foreign policy work, as well as that of its allies.”

These sanctions have sparked significant international criticism. Many countries, including European allies, have voiced support for the ICC, viewing it as a crucial part of the international justice system.

The ICC denounced the sanctions and urged its member states to oppose them. A court spokesperson said, “These measures represent a serious attack on the court’s judicial independence.”

Amal Clooney’s situation is complicated by her personal connections to the United States. While she and George primarily reside in the UK and Italy, they also have homes in the U.S. George Clooney is currently performing on Broadway in New York City, where the couple has temporarily relocated. He is starring in “Good Night, and Good Luck” at the Winter Garden Theater. The show began previews on March 12, 2025, officially opened on April 3, 2025, and is set to run through June 8, 2025.

The Clooneys have previously had a contentious relationship with President Trump. George Clooney criticized Trump during both his presidential campaigns.

The British Foreign Office has reportedly informed Amal Clooney and other British legal professionals involved in the ICC’s decision about the potential impact of the sanctions on their ability to travel to the United States.

The ICC serves as a court of last resort to investigate and prosecute individuals suspected of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide when national courts are unable or unwilling to do so. Neither the United States nor Israel acknowledges the ICC’s authority or jurisdiction.

Netanyahu and the Israeli government have criticized the ICC’s actions as “antisemitic” and politically motivated. Israeli officials assert that their military operations in Gaza were conducted in self-defense after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The sanctions against the ICC have raised concerns about their impact on the court’s operations and its ability to seek justice for victims of serious international crimes. Human rights organizations warn that the sanctions could deter victims from testifying and hinder the ICC’s technical and operational capabilities.