The UK is apprehensive about potential political unrest following a request from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for support regarding an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Historically, Britain has backed Israel’s claimed right to defend itself, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties in Gaza, including the deaths of around 15,000 children. If the ICC’s pre-trial judges decide to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials over alleged war crimes in Gaza, the UK anticipates considerable political ramifications.
In May, the ICC sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing their “criminal responsibility” for “war crimes and crimes against humanity” committed in the Gaza Strip since at least 8 October 2023. The alleged war crimes include using starvation as a tactic of warfare, intentionally targeting civilian populations, and other acts of persecution.
The UK was expected to submit written observations on whether the ICC could exercise jurisdiction over Israeli nationals, given that Palestine cannot pursue criminal jurisdiction under the Oslo Accords. However, following a government election in July, the newly formed administration opted to halt these efforts.
The Guardian reported that there are concerns within the government regarding the strong anti-Iran lobby, which may question the UK’s decision to focus on arresting the leader of an ally while not classifying Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.