Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney involved in recommending arrest warrants in Gaza war

New York. Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney said she was one of the legal experts who recommended the request for arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Defense Minister Joav Galant and Hamas leaders. The 46-year-old informed of her involvement on Monday in a letter she posted on the website of the Clooney Foundation for Justice – a foundation she and her husband, Hollywood star George Clooney, founded. Amal Clooney wrote that she and other legal experts unanimously decided to recommend that the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, apply for the arrest warrants.

Khan complied on Monday, justifying it by accusing Netanyahu, Gallant and the Hamas leadership – leader Jihia al-Sinwar, his deputy Mohammed Deif and Hamas foreign chief Ismail Haniya – of being linked to the attack, which has been going on since 2011 is underway. The Gaza war, which lasted more than seven months, is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel.

Further decisions rest with three judges

“I served on this panel because I believe in the rule of law and the need to protect civilian lives,” Amal Clooney wrote about her involvement as an expert witness. “The law that protects civilians in war was established more than 100 years ago and applies in every country in the world, regardless of the reasons for a conflict.”

The committee that discussed the recommendation to ICC Chief Prosecutor Khan included experts in international humanitarian law and international criminal law, Amal Clooney wrote. Two of the members were former judges at the criminal courts in The Hague, where the ICC is located. A panel of three judges will decide whether to issue arrest warrants and initiate proceedings.

RND/AP