David Lammy calls on the government to accept the ICC ruling if it carries out the arrest warrant against the Israeli Prime Minister. Photo: Alina Smutko/Reuters
Labor called for the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues a warrant for his arrest.
David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, said the UK and all parties to the Rome Statute, which underpins the ICC, “have a legal obligation” to respect its guarantees.
He spoke after the UK government said that it does not accept the jurisdiction of the ICC. in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and refused to confirm whether it would comply with the warrant if it were issued.
Suella Braverman, the former interior minister, said: “The ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders is a disgrace. “.
“Equating Israel's legitimate defensive measures with the barbaric terrorism of Hamas fundamentally undermines the impartiality and legitimacy of the ICC.”
Karim Khan, the ICC's chief prosecutor, announced yesterday that he has applied for arrest warrants against Israel's prime minister and leaders Hamas on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
It has also filed a motion to detain Yoav Gallant, Israel's defense minister, for alleged crimes including deliberately starving Palestinians as a weapon of war.
Mr Lammy told the Commons yesterday: “Arrest warrants issued are not a conviction or a determination of guilt, but reflect the evidence and the prosecutor's judgment as to the basis of individual criminal responsibility.
“Labour's position is that the decision Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to apply for arrest warrants is an independent matter for the court and the prosecutor.
“And Labor believes that the UK and all parties to the Treaty of Rome Under the law there is a legal obligation to comply with orders and warrants issued by the court. Democratic countries that believe in the rule of law must submit to it.”
Mr Lammy called on the Government to make the same commitment, asking: “Does the Conservative Party, the party of Churchill, who was one of the founders of our international legal system, into the international rule of law or not?
The Labor Party has come under criticism from voters over its stance on Israel, particularly among British Muslims, as reflected in last month's local elections.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said: “We have been clear previously that the ICC has no jurisdiction in this case and, most importantly, this action does not help bring about a pause in fighting, the removal of hostages or the delivery of humanitarian aid and progress.” to the sustainable ceasefire we want to see.
“The UK, like other countries, does not yet recognize Palestine as a state, and Israel itself is not a party to the Rome Statute, so we have previously made clear our position that the ICC does not have jurisdiction in this matter.”
Sir Michael Ellis, a Conservative MP and former attorney general, called the move a “grotesque abuse by the ICC”, adding that it “oversteps its remit and unfortunately positions itself as a political court”.
Meanwhile, some Labor MPs have renewed calls for Britain to halt arms sales to Israel.
Yesterday, Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, the organization's head, were also charged with crimes including extermination, rape and other acts of sexual violence” and “hostage-taking as a war crime.”
Benjamin Netanyahu's political allies have called the call for his arrest a “blatant moral bankruptcy.” and an act of “Jew-hatred.” Photo: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
Israel called the ICC decision “scandalous”, and Hamas condemned the charges against its leaders, saying they “equate the victim with the executioner.”
The ICC decision came after a months-long investigation into the attacks Hamas on October 7 and Israeli reactions in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu's allies in the Israeli cabinet reacted immediately, calling the call for his arrest a “blatant moral bankruptcy” and an act of “hatred of Jews.”
Referring to Netanyahu and Gallant, Khan said he believed that “crimes against humanity were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack on Palestinian civilians in accordance with state policy.”
Two men are accused of exploiting the famine among the civilian population as a weapon of war, causing “great suffering”, “deliberate attack against the civilian population”, “extermination and/or murder” and “other inhumane acts”.
Regarding Hamas' actions, he said the group had carried out a “widespread and systematic attack against the Israeli civilian population,” including through “rape and other acts of sexual violence” and hostage-taking.
Arrest warrant application The filing followed consultation with an ICC panel that included Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer, and five British experts.
Ms Clooney, wife of film star George Clooney, said she hoped “justice will prevail in a region that has already suffered too much.”
A decision on whether to issue an arrest warrant will now be made. by ICC judges. Historically, decisions have taken months to take and rarely result in an arrest.
Israel is not a member of the ICC and has called on allies to waive the court's jurisdiction over the decision.
South Africa refused to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a visit to the country in 2015. The government blocked an attempt to detain the president, arguing that he has immunity from the ICC as head of state.
Jordan also failed to arrest Mr. al-Bashir during his 2017 visit.
The ICC panel of judges will review the prosecution's case for issuing the arrest warrant and reserve the right to block it.
< p>Genocide charges against Sudan were initially blocked due to lack of evidence, but were later issued as new arrest warrant.
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's finance minister, called the call for arrests a “demonstration of hypocrisy.” and hatred of Jews,” which was reminiscent of Nazi propaganda.
“Arrest warrants for them are arrest warrants for all of us,” he said.
Benny Gantz, Israeli War Cabinet Minister , said the move was “a crime of historic proportions.”
“To draw parallels between the leaders of a democratic country determined to protect itself from heinous terror and the leaders of a murderous terrorist organization is a profound misrepresentation of justice. and blatant moral bankruptcy,” he said.
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