This Friday, Downing Street announced its opposition to the ICC's request for an international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Galant.
“This was a previous government proposal that was not submitted before the election and I can confirm that the government will not withdraw, in line with our longstanding position that the courts should decide,” the spokesman said. of British Administration.
The same source added, “The government firmly believes in the rule of international and national law and the separation of powers.” The decision marks a reversal of the previous government's stance, which had planned to oppose the ICC's request.
In May, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested international arrest warrants for Israeli Defense Minister Netanyahu and the three leaders of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Yeya Sinwar, Mohammad Taif and Ismail Haniyeh. and Israel.
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticized the ICC decision in May, and a month later his government announced it would mount a legal challenge to the ICC. On the Court's jurisdiction over Israeli nationals, “in circumstances where Palestine cannot exercise criminal jurisdiction over Israeli nationals (under the Oslo Accords)”.
The deadline to challenge the ICC ends this Friday.
“Regrettable and Regressive”
Some Jewish organizations have challenged the decision by Keir Starmer's government, which won a landslide victory in British elections earlier this month.
The Jewish Leadership Council – a British body that promotes the interests of the organized Jewish community in England – condemned the “regrettable and reactionary” decision.
“The cumulative effect of these announcements represents a significant shift in policy, moving Israel away from being a key ally of the United Kingdom,” the organization wrote in a statement posted on social network X.
In turn, the International Center for Justice for the Palestinians (ICJP) considered the withdrawal of the United Kingdom's objection a “relief”.
“Respecting the jurisdiction and independence of the ICC is the least a Labor government can do to demonstrate a real commitment to justice and accountability,” said ICPJ legal director Jackie Sarraf.
The Palestinian ambassador to the UK also welcomed the decision, calling it “a significant step forward for the UK to hold Israel to account after decades of impunity and the rule of law, the international system”.
Ban on arms sales to Israel
Reports suggest that the British government is also preparing to announce restrictions on arms sales to Israel. Guardian And Middle Eastern eye.
According to these sources close to the executive, the United Kingdom will ban the sale of “assault” weapons, but not “defensive” weapons.
Given the attacks on Israel by the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas, “a blanket ban would not be right,” UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the House of Commons last week.
Even so, if confirmed, the partial embargo on arms sales to Israel would represent a shift and hardening of the British government's stance on the Hebrew state.
The British government is facing increasing pressure from civil society and human rights groups to end arms sales to Israel.
In April, more than 600 lawyers, academics and former judges sent a letter to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak demanding an end to arms sales to Israel, citing a “credible risk of genocide” in Gaza.
At the time, Foreign Secretary David Cameron made no changes to his policy of providing arms to Israel.
