The UK Prime Minister’s spokesperson announced that if Benjamin Netanyahu were to visit the UK, the Labour Government would be obligated to arrest him based on the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The spokesperson emphasized the UK’s commitment to complying with both domestic and international law.
Despite the arrest warrant, the spokesperson did not confirm how the government would handle the situation if Netanyahu were to visit the UK, stating that they do not discuss hypothetical scenarios. The spokesperson highlighted that the UK has not had to execute an ICC arrest warrant in the past due to the absence of individuals wanted by the court visiting the country.
While the Prime Minister’s office acknowledged the arrest warrant, they mentioned that Prime Minister Starmer would continue engaging with the Israeli Prime Minister and other allies to work towards a diplomatic solution in the Middle East. The spokesperson stressed the importance of dialogue with Israel at all levels to achieve a ceasefire in the region.
Former shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry reiterated that there is no legal barrier preventing the UK Government from upholding the ICC warrants and detaining Netanyahu if he enters the country. The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant and Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’s armed wing, in connection to attacks that led to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
The warrants issued by the ICC were met with criticism from Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel, who described them as concerning and called for the government to challenge the decision. However, the UK government backed the ICC’s independence and respected its authority.
Despite discussions about a potential legal challenge to the arrest warrants before the General Election, the Labour administration decided against it, deferring to the jurisdiction of the court. The ICC found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant were involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the war crime of starvation and directing attacks against the civilian population.
The impact of the arrest warrants may be limited as Israel and the US, its major ally, are not members of the ICC. The situation highlights the complex legal and diplomatic considerations surrounding international criminal law and the enforcement of arrest warrants for individuals accused of serious crimes.
