UK refuses to say whether it will arrest Netanyahu following ICC warrant

The Home Secretary has refused to say whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be arrested if he lands on British soil after an international arrest warrant was issued for him.

On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant For Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza war.

But Yvette Cooper said the ICC, of ​​which the UK is a member, is independent and while the government respects that, it “would be inappropriate for me to comment” on the processes involved.

She told Sky News: “We have always respected the importance of international law, but in most cases they deal with they do not become part of the British legal process.

“What I can say is that obviously the UK Government’s position remains unchanged: we believe the focus should be on achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”

However, Emily Thornberry, Labour’s chairwoman of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, told Sky News: “If Netanyahu comes to the UK, our obligation under the Rome Convention would be to arrest him on an ICC warrant.

“It’s not really a question of should, we have to do it because we are members of the ICC.”

The government said that after winning the July elections it not object to the ICC’s power to issue warrants.

An ICC arrest warrant was also issued to the Hamas leader. Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masrithe mastermind of the October 7 attacks in Israel, alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Israel claims Al-Masri was killed earlier this year, but the ICC said this was unconfirmed and so it issued an arrest warrant.

Netanyahu’s office said the warrants against him and Gallant were “anti-Semitic” and said Israel “rejects the absurd and false actions with disgust.”

Neither Israel nor the US are members of the ICC. Israel has rejected the court’s jurisdiction and denies committing war crimes in Gaza.

US President Joe Biden called the warrants against Israeli leaders “outrageous”, adding: “Whatever the ICC implies, there is no equivalent – no – no equivalent between Israel and Hamas.”

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant were a “badge of shame” for the ICC.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the ICC decision sent a “terrible message”.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he would invite Netanyahu to visit Hungary and guarantee that the arrest warrant “will not be respected.”

However, both France and Italy have made it clear that they will arrest Netanyahu if he comes to their countries.

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The ICC initially said it had sought arrest warrants for the three men for alleged crimes in May, and on Thursday announced it had rejected Israel’s objections and issued the arrest warrants.

In its update, the ICC said it had found “reasonable grounds to believe” that Netanyahu and Gallant “are criminally responsible” for the alleged crimes.

These, the court said, included “war crimes involving starvation as a method of warfare, as well as crimes against humanity such as murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.”

It is the first time a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court.

(c) Sky News 2024: UK refuses to say whether it will arrest Netanyahu following ICC warrant