UK Warns Top British Lawyers of Potential U.S. Sanctions Over ICC Case Against Israel

London (Quds News Network)- The UK Foreign Office has warned several high-profile British lawyers that they could face U.S. sanctions for advising the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigation into war crimes by Israeli officials in Gaza.

The warning comes after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February threatening sanctions against individuals supporting what he called the ICC’s “transgressions.”

Those potentially targeted include Lord Justice Adrian Fulford, Baroness Helena Kennedy, and Danny Friedman KC. All three advised the ICC on whether it had enough evidence to charge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Amal Clooney and other prominent legal experts also served on the advisory panel.

The ICC issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant last year.

The panel of international legal experts, which also included former ICTY President Judge Theodor Meron and international law specialist Elizabeth Wilmshurst KC, unanimously supported the ICC’s decision to proceed with charges.

The executive order signed by Trump authorizes asset freezes and visa bans against individuals deemed to support the ICC’s actions. The order gave a 60-day deadline — ending April 7 — for a list of recommended individuals to sanction. So far, no further names have been announced.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) reportedly contacted the lawyers to inform them of the risks. The UK government has not commented publicly on the matter. Several of the lawyers named in the advisory have declined to comment or could not be reached.

Netanyahu and Gallant have dismissed the charges as “absurd and false.” Israel has rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction, saying it is not a party to the Rome Statute.

On Thursday, the Appeals Chamber of the ICC has rejected Israel’s request to cancel or suspend the arrest warrants issued for the regime’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and former minister of military affairs, Yoav Gallant.

The ICC said it accepted Israel’s appeal for a reconsideration of the Court’s jurisdiction over crimes committed in Palestinian territories. However, it added that this issue did not affect the situation of standing arrest warrants against Israeli officials.