UK to comply with ICC ‘Legal Obligations’ over Netanyahu’s arrest warrant
The British government has reaffirmed its commitment to international legal obligations following the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The ICC charges, announced on Thursday, stem from allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes during Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza.
The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s deadly attack on October 7, 2023, has drawn widespread international condemnation and calls for accountability.
Addressing the matter on Friday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson declined to speculate on whether UK authorities would arrest Netanyahu if he visited.
However, the spokesperson emphasised that the UK would adhere to its legal responsibilities under both domestic and international law.
“The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law,” the spokesperson said, without delving into specifics regarding individual cases.
The UK is a signatory to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, having signed in 1998 and ratified the agreement in 2001.
The country’s ICC Act 2001 mandates that any request from the ICC for an arrest must be transmitted to an appropriate court. If a valid arrest warrant accompanies the request, a judicial officer is required to endorse it for execution within the UK.
The ICC Act has never been invoked in the UK, as no individual indicted by the ICC has visited the country since the law’s enactment. Legal experts highlight a grey area in determining whether the court process begins immediately after an arrest warrant is issued or only if the indicted person physically arrives in the UK.
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The spokesperson added, “We would obviously fulfil our obligations under the act,” signalling the government’s intent to uphold its international commitments.
The ICC’s arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant mark a significant development in global justice, particularly given the high-profile nature of the accused. Both individuals face accusations of directing actions that led to severe humanitarian consequences during the conflict in Gaza.
While the UK’s stance aligns with its legal obligations, any attempt to arrest a sitting prime minister could have far-reaching diplomatic and geopolitical implications. Observers will closely monitor how Britain navigates this delicate situation amid growing international scrutiny.
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