Newly disclosed diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks reveal that the Obama administration led a vigorous campaign to stymie an independent U.N. investigation into possible war crimes committed by Israel during its assault on Gaza in 2008 and 2009. The campaign was led by Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. According to the magazine Foreign Policy, Rice issued a veiled warning in one cable to the president of the International Criminal Court. Rice warned that an investigation into alleged Israeli crimes could damage the ICC’s standing with the United States at a time when the new administration was moving closer to the tribunal.