UK withdraws objection to ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu

The country's ruling Labor Party has announced its biggest-ever move as part of a shake-up of UK policy on the Middle East. The party has raised objections to the issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against some of the country's leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

For days there were indications that the United Kingdom would withdraw its objection to the issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders accused of war crimes in Gaza. The United States, a close ally of Israel, was pressuring the Labor Party not to take this decision. However, ignoring this pressure, the Labor Party announced the decision of Pakapaka.

The British Prime Minister's Office, No. 10 Downing Street, said on Friday that ICC Chief Counsel Karim Khan has applied for the court to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The UK government will not challenge the court's jurisdiction in this regard.

This move by the United Kingdom has made it more likely that the ICC will accept Karim Khan's request to issue an arrest warrant. If the court accepts the petition, it will be the biggest international condemnation for Israel over the Gaza war. At the same time, Netanyahu will be at risk of being arrested for traveling outside the country.
With this move by the United Kingdom, more possibilities have been created for the ICC to accept Karim Khan's application. If the court accepts the petition, it will be the biggest international condemnation for Israel over the Gaza war. At the same time, Netanyahu will be at risk of being arrested for traveling outside the country.

The UK's decision is in stark contrast to the country's policy towards Israel for months. Because the previous Conservative government was inflexible in its support for the country, similar to the US position.

Ministers in the new UK government are expected to announce further decisions on Israel in the coming days; This will include the results of a review launched at the request of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer into Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has indicated that he is considering banning some arms sales to Israel.

Prime Minister Starmer's deputy spokesman said, "There was a motion by the previous Conservative government to challenge the jurisdiction of the ICC to issue an arrest warrant against Netanyahu." It was not filed before the recent election. I can confirm that the current government will not move forward on this issue in line with our long standing position. Issuance of warrant of arrest is a matter of decision of the court.

When asked whether the current government of the United Kingdom thinks that a warrant should be issued against Netanyahu, the deputy spokesperson did not give a direct answer and said, "That is a matter for the court."

Last May, Karim Khan said he was applying to the court to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his defense minister Galant on charges of war crimes in Gaza. He also wants a warrant against the leaders of the Palestinian independence organization Hamas, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammad Deif.

The recently departed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticized Karim Khan's decision. His government later said it had told the ICC it would challenge whether the court had jurisdiction to take action against Israeli nationals.