British-Lebanese Amal Clooney helped ICC weigh Gaza war crimes evidence
Amal Clooney helped the International Criminal Court weigh evidence that led to the decision to seek arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas leaders, the human rights lawyer said.
The high-profile British-Lebanese barrister posted a statement on the website of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which she founded with her husband, American actor George Clooney.
Both she and the foundation had previously been criticized on social media for not speaking out over the civilian death toll in Gaza.
Clooney said she was asked by prosecutor Karim Khan to join an expert panel to "evaluate evidence of suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel and Gaza."
The statement came the same day Khan said he was seeking arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as top Hamas leaders.
"Despite our diverse personal backgrounds, our legal findings are unanimous," Clooney said, adding there were "reasonable grounds to believe" that Hamas' Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh engaged in "hostage-taking, murder and crimes of sexual violence."
With Netanyahu and Gallant, meanwhile, there are "reasonable grounds to believe" the two have engaged in "starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution and extermination."
Khan thanked Clooney in his statement announcing the decision to seek the arrest warrants.
Clooney and other members of the panel also wrote an opinion piece in the Financial Times on Monday supporting ICC prosecutions for war crimes in the conflict.
As Hamas, Israel and top ally the United States all denounced the move, the experts wrote that they "unanimously agree that the prosecutor's work was rigorous, fair and grounded in the law and the facts."
Clooney, in her statement, said that "my approach is not to provide a running commentary of my work but to let the work speak for itself."
"I served on this panel because I believe in the rule of law and the need to protect civilian lives," she added.
"The law that protects civilians in war was developed more than 100 years ago and it applies in every country in the world regardless of the reasons for a conflict."
21 May 2024, 19:24
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For Lebanon government to get any credibility on the world scene, it must lock all Hamas leadership in Lebanon and remove every and all arms and rockets it possess. Does Egypt, Jordan or any gulf nation allow Hamas firing rockets from their territory? Why are we the only Banana Republic? Lebanon should also seize all properties of Hamas leaders. Hamas billionaire and millionaire leaders made fortune out of people misery by taxing tunnel counterfeit and fuel, extorting valuable lands, skimming aid and reconstruction funds, and contractors kickback. They are blood traders profiting from people misery. These fortunes must be seized for rebuilding Gaza prior to any reconstruction aid.
21 May 2024, 19:24
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THE STONE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME CORNERSTONE: Lebanon is key for permanent peace in the Middle East. No other country more important. It alone can make a difference between temporary ceasefire and permanent comprehensive peace, btw bottomless waste of money and regional golden age; btw balance of terror and socio-eco-political interdependency. Permanent peace only possible by deposing the evil trilogy: Hamas/Hizbollah/Netanyahu and rebuilding trust & economic integration that are only security for peace and 2-state solution. Lebanese army after mandate from Cedar Revolution II with Shia participation must disarm Hizbollah & Hamas, thus eliminating Iran’s tentacles & radicals breeding ground. Action coordinated with international plan to depose Netanyahu, demarcate borders, impose 2-state solution & Marshal-type aid package for Gaza/W Bank, Lebanon, Sinai & Jordan to insure prosperous economies, reconstruction & full employment.
21 May 2024, 19:25
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WHERE ARE MARTYRS HARIRI & SADR WHEN WE NEED THEM: The 2024 Beirut Peace Plan described above requires the skills of Rafiq Hariri & Imam Saddr. Hariri capitalized on our strengths and diversity making Lebanon the most democratic, free and envy of the Arab world. The 2002 Beirut Arab League Peace Plan setup the principles for regional peace. A regional peace will be the end of the criminal regime in Iran that’s why they were quick to assassinate Hariri followed by assassination and imprisonment of the Leaders of Green Revolution, including past president, intellectuals, and most productive section of the Iranian society. If Imam Saddr was alive in 2010, he no doubt will be a leader of the Green Revolution and assassinated by Basij mercenaries Hizbollah. Urgent to reproduce Hariri & Saddr leadership qualities instead of this political mafia subservient to Iran’s Foreign Legion to become the CORNERSTONE for regional peace.
21 May 2024, 19:25
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PERFECT TIMING: Evil trilogy is exposed. Over half US Jewish students say Netanyahu committed war crimes and favor 2-state solution. Zero sympathy for racist settlers. Hizbollah exposed as Iran’s mercenaries & foreign legion like Houthis, destroying economy to make Lebanon a Banana Republic & Basij rocket base since long range missiles & drones are easy target. Despot Hamas leaders are exposed as war mongers sacrificing their own people for power & riches, rejected by more & more Palestinians. Not to mention Arab, Europe and US leaders profusely hate this evil trilogy. As to the vultures of Tehran, they have zero friends, viewed as Great Satan by Iranian diaspora & surviving by blackmailing other countries. No better time to get rid of this evil trilogy with Lebanon neutralizing 2 out of 3 as no other country allows armed Hamas or militias. Without arms & camps, Hizbollah & Hamas will wither away if not hanged by their million victims.
21 May 2024, 19:25
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WHAT PERMANENT PEACE IS WORTH: Ukraine War cost is already in hundreds of billion with a million victims. Hamas/Israel war direct and indirect cost is also in the hundreds of billion. Conflict can torpedo Gulf nations 2030 economic visions that depend on peace, tourism, economic outlook & credit rating; causing hundreds of billion in failed investments. UNWRA, UNIFIL, aid grants & reconstruction cost are more wasted billions. Therefore a $200 billion Marshall Plan package paid by the world community for permanent Arab-Palestinian-Israeli peace is the best investment the world can make; restoring sanity & significantly cheaper than future wars, misery, radicalism and illegal immigration. It is also a prelude to Saudi and other Arab peace accords; leaving Iran as the emperor with no cloth about to be deposed by oppressed Iranians. Lebanon deserves at least $70 billion grant package restoring its soul, culture, meaningful jobs & leading role in the region.
21 May 2024, 19:26
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DISARMING WILL SUCCEED: If US, Europe & Gulf want permanent peace & 2-State solution no one can stop them not even Netanyahu & Nasrallah love story. Hizb & Useful Idiots are 90% responsible for Lebanon bankruptcy turning it into a beggar nation run by Basij with no dignity, honor, justice or freedom. Cedar Revolution I did not include Shia support. Shia will be prominent in Cedar Revolution II as all masks have fallen. Then army give ultimatum to Hizb to surrender its arms followed by war of liberation if Hizb objects. Yes, fourth generation Lebanese from around the world will volunteer to liberate Lebanon from this criminal militia & corrupt political mafia to restore our culture, freedom & way of life. Hizb support is a mirage, forced by arms & indoctrination not unlike 90% of Iraqi Shia voting for Saddam. As to Michel Aoun, if he & FPM do not support Army’s war against Hizb, his wars against LF will make him a war criminal. Lets hope Hizb smartly disarms.
