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The home secretary has declined to confirm whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be apprehended if he arrived in the UK, following the issuance of an international arrest warrant against him.
On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) released arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defense secretary Yoav Gallant over accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity associated with the conflict in Gaza.
However, Yvette Cooper articulated that the ICC, of which the UK is a part, operates independently. While the government acknowledges this, she stated that it “wouldn’t be suitable for me to comment” on the judicial proceedings.
In an interview with Sky News, she remarked, “We have consistently upheld the significance of international law, but in most circumstances they pursue, such matters do not enter the British legal framework.”
“What I can affirm is that the UK government’s stance persists that our emphasis should be on achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Conversely, Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs committee in parliament, informed Sky News: “Should Netanyahu set foot in Britain, our duty according to the Rome Convention would compel us to detain him under the ICC’s warrant.”
“This is not merely a matter of choice; we are obligated to do so as members of the ICC.”
The government declared that following its victory in July’s election, it would not oppose the ICC’s authority to issue the warrants.
Additionally, an ICC arrest warrant was issued for Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al Masri, identified as the architect of the 7 October attacks in Israel, on similar allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Israel asserts that Al Masri was killed earlier this year; however, the ICC has stated that this claim remains unverified, which prompted the issuance of the arrest warrant.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant (right) are subject to arrest warrants. File pic: Reuters
Netanyahu’s office labeled the warrants issued against him and Gallant as “anti-Semitic,” adamantly stating that Israel “rejects with indignation the ludicrous and false actions”.
Neither the United States nor Israel are participants of the ICC. Israel has dismissed the court’s authority and refutes allegations of war crimes in Gaza.
President Joe Biden of the United States characterized the warrants against Israeli officials as “outrageous,” noting: “Regardless of what the ICC might suggest, there is no equivalency – none – between Israel and Hamas.”
Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett described the warrants aimed at Netanyahu and Gallant as a “stigma of shame” for the ICC.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed that the ICC’s verdict conveyed a “horrific message”.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Friday his intention to extend an invitation to Netanyahu, ensuring that the arrest warrant would “not be enforced”.
Nonetheless, both France and Italy indicated that they would detain Netanyahu should he enter their territory.
Read more:
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Hamas prepared for Gaza ceasefire ‘immediately’
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Why have arrest warrants been issued?
The ICC initially sought arrest warrants for the three individuals in May due to the alleged offenses and announced on Thursday that it had dismissed challenges posed by Israel and formally issued the arrest warrants.
In its update, the ICC stated that it found “reasonable grounds to believe” that Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility” for the purported offenses.
The court identified these accusations as including “the war crime of starvation used as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts”.
This marks the first instance where a sitting leader of a significant Western ally has faced charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity from a global judicial authority.
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