Starmer takes ‘disappointing’ U-turn on Netanyahu arrest warrant

As International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan continues to seek an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the UK government has stated that it will not withdraw its objection to the ICC decision, reported the New Arab and agencies on July 16th.

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has stated that they are “disappointed” in the UK’s decision to retain its objection to arrest warrants after British news outlets released shortly after Kier Starmer’s election victory that the new Labour government would drop challenges to the ICC.

The ICJP has criticised Starmer’s government for its attempt to “shy away from taking a lead on equal application of international law without fear or favour,”.

The ICJP is an independent organisation of lawyers, academics, and politicians that “work to promote and support Palestinian rights.” The group that provides legal support for Palestinians had sent a letter to the UK foreign office outlining policy issues for the Labour government to focus on, including the upholding of international law.

Allegations have been made against the Prime Minister for being lobbied by the US to keep intact the previous Conservative government’s challenge to the ICC arrest warrants.

READ: NGOs accuse Israel of “siege tactics” to block Gaza aid

The ICJP’s Senior Public Affairs Officer Jonathan Purcell called the Starmer government’s “dawdling and indecisiveness” undermining the UK’s international position.

“If Labour wants to be taken seriously as a party of change, we need to see it to believe it. The Prime Minister calls himself a human rights lawyer, but a major U-turn such as this would show that actions speak louder than words.”, stated Purcell in criticism of the government, which he states is showing a “total lack of urgency whilst Palestinians are being killed in the meantime,”.

Calls from the ICJP have come following UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on July 14thin which he reassured Netanyahu that the new government would continue to delay the ICC decision on issuing arrest warrants.

The ICC is also seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed al-Deif.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed 38,664 Palestinians and wounded 98,097, according to the Hamas-led Health Ministry. Civilians in the enclave face daily strikes in designated ‘safe zones’ whilst also facing famine-like conditions.

The Arab News / Middle East Eye and agencies