Sir Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister has announced his position after the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to Starmer, the UK supports ICC’s independence and that Netanyahu could face arrest if he visits the UK.
We had reported that the ICC, based in The Hague, issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and a Hamas leader, citing allegations of war crimes committed during the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the UK’s legal obligation to comply with ICC rulings, saying, “The UK respects the independence of the ICC. If the warrant is ratified by a UK court, it would be enforced, he said.”
However, the government stated that there is no “moral equivalence” between Israel and Hamas, reiterating Israel’s right to self-defense under international law.
The arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant allege the use of starvation as a weapon in Gaza, a charge Israeli officials deny. Israel has described the ICC’s decision as “absurd and false,” maintaining that its actions are justified responses to Hamas attacks.
The situation in Gaza has been described as dire, with humanitarian experts warning of widespread hunger and a death toll surpassing 44,000, according to local health authorities.
Labour Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel criticized the ICC’s decision, calling it “provocative,” while Attorney General Lord Hermer stated that the UK would comply with its legal obligations under the International Criminal Court Act 2001.
While the warrant could complicate Netanyahu’s international travel, its enforcement remains uncertain, as Israel and the United States are not members of the ICC. The UK, as one of 123 member states, is legally bound to uphold the ICC’s decisions.
Prime Minister Starmer stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid access, and the release of hostages, reiterating the UK’s focus on ending the violence.
Starmer faces internal party pressure, with some Labour members urging strong action. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, called the warrant a “significant but overdue step,” criticizing the UK’s perceived complicity in Gaza’s suffering.
Richard Burgon, Secretary of the Socialist Campaign Group, called for enforcement of the warrants and sanctions against Israel to prevent further violations.
The debate continues as the ICC’s decision reverberates globally, raising questions about justice and accountability in the protracted conflict.
