5 months ago
34
WASHINGTON:
George Clooney
contacted a top White House official in May to complain after Prez Biden criticised the International Criminal Court's move to seek a warrant against top Israeli officials over Gaza war, a case the actor's wife had worked on, two people familiar with the situation said.
Amal Clooney
, a prominent human rights lawyer, served on an advisory panel that helped conduct the court's investigation, which resulted in warrant requests for Israel's PM and defence minister and three senior Hamas leaders, accusing them of illegal conduct that has led to thousands of civilian deaths.
George Clooney lodged his protest with Steve Ricchetti, a counsellor to Biden who played a pivotal role in his fundraising efforts four years ago. It had no effect on US policy, a senior official said. Nonetheless, Clooney's decision to contact the White House (in the form of a text message) underscores the problems that Israel's actions have caused for Biden as he tries to reconcile his support for a stalwart ally. Clooney is scheduled to appear at a June 15 fundraiser for Biden in Los Angeles. A spokespersonfor the actor declined to comment about Clooney's interaction with Ricchetti but said his client "has every intention of attending the fundraiser".
