ALBAWABA - As a special advisor in the International Criminal Court (ICC) inquiry that resulted to arrest warrants for Israel and Hamas officials, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney was vital. Karim Khan, the court's head prosecutor, praised Clooney's participation on a respected international law panel.
Khan thanked Clooney, saying, “The panel is composed of experts of immense standing in international humanitarian law and international criminal law.” Many specialists, like Clooney, are British.
ICC investigators Clooney and her colleagues have requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohammad Deif. These warrants allege war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Clooney Foundation for Justice said that the ICC prosecutor called Clooney about four months ago to help evaluate evidence of alleged war crimes in Israel and Gaza. She joined a panel of international legal experts at the ICC in The Hague for a thorough assessment and analysis.
“Our legal findings are unanimous,” Clooney said. We unanimously decided the court had jurisdiction over Palestinian offenses and nationals. We all feel Hamas and Israeli leaders committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Clooney stressed her support for the rule of law and civilian life, challenging the idea that particular conflicts or offenders should be immune from legal consequences. “As a human rights lawyer, I will never accept that one child's life has less value than another's,” she said.
Clooney and her advisory group welcomed Khan's arrest warrants as a breakthrough in international criminal law in a Financial Times op-ed. Focused investigations of civilian injury from the Gaza bombing war and Israeli sexual assault were encouraged.
Barrister Amal Clooney, married to actor George Clooney, works in Doughty Street Chambers in London and has worked on high-profile international court issues.
