Hollywood star George Clooney contacted the White House last month to support his wife’s advocacy at the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is pursuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu related to the Gaza conflict.
According to a Washington Post report, the ICC has issued arrest warrants not only for Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant but also for three Hamas leaders, provoking strong reactions in both Israel and the U.S.
Both countries do not acknowledge the ICC’s jurisdiction and have condemned the court for putting Israel, which adheres to international law, on the same level as Hamas, which initiated the conflict and violates such laws.
The Washington Post detailed that Clooney contacted Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president, to voice his concerns over President Biden’s disapproval of the ICC’s actions: “Clooney called Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president, to express concern about Biden’s denunciation of arrest warrants sought by ICC prosecutors for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, especially his use of the word ‘outrageous.’”
