UK PM Starmer to drop delay on Netanyahu ICC arrest warrant
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The Labour Party reiterates its stance on the ICC’s jurisdiction over Gaza, countering the previous Conservative government's formal claim that the court does not have jurisdiction over Israeli settlers.
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Britain's Labour Party leader Keir Starmer delivers a speech during a victory rally at the Tate Modern in London early on July 5, 2024. (AFP)
The UK’s newly elected government is expected to drop their bid to delay the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision on issuing an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his international war crimes in Gaza, The Guardian reported on Monday.
Keir Starmer, the UK’s new prime minister spoke to both the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Netanyahu on Sunday.
Starmer spoke to Abbas about Gaza’s “ongoing suffering and devastating loss of life,” and expressed his belief that Palestine has the right to sovereignty.
During his phone call with Netanyahu, Starmer urged for the prime minister to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, stressing that “it was also important to ensure the long-term conditions for a two-state solution were in place, including ensuring the Palestinian Authority had the financial means to operate effectively.”
Starmer also expressed his concern over "Israel’s" ongoing war with Hezbollah, stating it was “crucial all parties acted with caution."
Countering Tory plans to delay
Labour officials reiterated the party's stance on the ICC’s jurisdiction over Gaza, countering the previous Conservative government's formal claim on June 10 that the court does not have jurisdiction over Israeli settlers.
The UK was given until July 12 by the ICC's pre-trial chamber to submit their full claim, but it seems that the new Tory government will not go ahead with this, thus lifting the delay on the request for arrest warrants.
According to the UK’s Foreign Office in the legal challenge, the ICC does not have jurisdiction over “Israel” since the Palestinian Authority lacks sovereignty over Israeli settlers under the Oslo Accords, and as such could not transfer jurisdiction over to the ICC. However, according to the ICC, the court is able to exercise its criminal jurisdiction in case of any violations of the Rome Statute in Gaza, the West Bank, and East occupied al-Quds.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he would evaluate the future of the UNRWA, a decision the Conservative government refused to restore until the United Nations concluded their investigation of the claim of their staff taking part in the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7. Lammy also insisted, based on the previous administration’s legal advice, that the UK is not in breach of international humanitarian law through its arms sales to "Israel".
“It’s hard to see how an organization that’s not committed to a two-state solution, and is committed to terrorism, can be part of that solution,” Lammy said, rejecting Hamas' potential governance of Gaza, adding, “But I also recognize that there are real problems at the moment with the Palestinian Authority, which is why this is going to take a lot of work with our partners.”
105 MPs urge UK government to support ICC's 'Israel' arrest warrants
Contrary to the Conservative government's support for "Israel," multiple MPs and politicians showcased their support for Gaza, demanding a ceasefire.
A letter was sent in May to former UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak by 105 MPs and Lords from 11 parties urging the government "to do all it can to support the international criminal court" after the duo called the ICC arrest warrants "deeply unhelpful".
The letter stated that the government must stand against any attempts to intimidate an independent and impartial international court, adding that "the court, its prosecutor, and all its staff must be free to pursue justice without fear or favour."
Labour MPs Richard Burgon and Imran Hussain, who initiated the letter, said, "There is mounting evidence that Israel has committed clear and obvious violations of international law in Gaza and we strongly believe that those responsible must be held to account."
Charges leveled against Netanyahu and Gallant by the ICC include "causing extermination, using starvation as a method of war by denying humanitarian relief supplies, and deliberately targeting civilians in conflict."
Netanyahu described the measures of the ICC to issue arrest warrants against him and Security Minister Yoav Gallant as "anti-semitic" and confirmed that they will not constrain "Israel" in its war on Gaza.
"With what audacity do you dare compare the monsters of Hamas to the soldiers of the [IOF], the most moral army in the world?" he said.
