Government must cooperate with ICC Netanyahu arrest warrants – and end arms sales to Israel now!
Ben Jamal, Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign
By Matt Willgress
Today, in a challenge to those who have played down the Israeli government’s genocide and human rights abuses in Gaza, International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan announced he would be seeking the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netenyahu, and Defence Secretary Yoav Gallant, for war crimes.
The statement included charges for starvation of civilians as a method of warfare; wilfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health; wilful killing or murder; intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population; extermination and/or murder, including in the context of deaths caused by starvation; persecution; and other inhumane acts. All are war crimes under international law.
Campaigners were quick to stress the unprecedented nature of the charges. Ben Jamal of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said “this is seismic. The government has to immediately make clear it will fully support this process and halt arms sales to a state whose leader is facing prosecution as a war criminal. Failure to do so makes clear, the UK does not support Human Rights Law and is happy to aid and abet violations of it”.
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament were similarly clear, saying “with the ICC seeking arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, the British government must immediately stop its support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza”. The peace campaign called for an immediate arms embargo.
In parliament, left MPs joined campaigners in calling for an end to the arms trade with Israel.
Zarah Sultana said “when you read [the news of the announcement], remember that the UK government has aided and abetted Netanyahu’s war crimes: from legitimising his brutal bombardment of Gaza, to supplying weapons to the Israeli military. That must now end. Our government must support the ICC and stop arming Israel.”
Similarly, Nadia Whittome MP told Twitter that “under international law, the UK has a responsibility to ensure it’s not complicit in war crimes. With the ICC seeking an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, there can be no more turning a blind eye.”
“We must demand a ceasefire and stop arming the Israeli government now.”
Others insisted that the government must support the ICC in its attempt to prosecute Israel’s Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. Jeremy Corbyn argued that “the ICC’s arrest warrant is a sobering wake-up call for political leaders who have aided and abetted crimes against humanity. The UK government must give its full support to the ICC and end arms sales to Israel.”
“We will carry on campaigning for a just and lasting peace”.
Beth Winter added that the “UK Govt must declare and demonstrate its support for this process. That must mean suspending arms sales licensing to those accused of directing attacks against civilians”
Building on calls to respect the jurisdiction of the court, Richard Burgon, also highlighted that the independence of the ICC following the ruling needed to be defended:
“Now the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants, our Government must condemn threats and attempts to undermine the independence of the Court.”
“And it must do all it can to support the Court in ensuring accountability and justice for the victims of these crimes.”
Levelling criticism at not only the government but the Labour frontbench, Momentum told Twitter/X “Labour cannot back the ICC as it works towards the arrest of Israel’s prime minister for ongoing war crimes while continuing to support the arming of the Israeli state”.
Their remarks echo a strong statement from Mish Rahman, a member of Labour’s NEC, who said “the genocidal maniacs Netanyahu and Gallant are criminals for crimes against humanity. Sunak and the UK must now stop assisting criminals.”
Today’s dramatic announcement from the ICC underscores the need to continue to demonstrate for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, an arms embargo on Israel, and the recognition – and liberation – of Palestine. Let’s continue to join the demonstrations and renew the call for a free Palestine!
- You can read the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s full response, published on Labour Outlook here.
UK Government must act in response to applications for arrest warrants issued by ICC Prosecutor – Palestine Solidarity Campaign
By the Palestine Solidarity Campaign
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has consistently made clear that international law must be the framework within which we judge acts of violence and their legitimacy. International law makes it clear that the deliberate killing of civilians, hostage-taking and collective punishment are war crimes. International law also enshrines the right of a people to resist oppression and military occupation.
On Monday 20 May 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan KC, applied for arrest warrants to be issued for three senior Hamas leaders and two senior Israeli government ministers – the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Yoav Gallant, the Minister of Defence.
In his statement, Mr. Khan makes clear that the investigation is continuing. These applications for arrest warrants must only be the start. It is notable and disappointing that there is no mention of the occupation or other aspects of Israel’s system of apartheid such as the abundant evidence of torture of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. These omissions speak to the political context in which the ICC operates. Nonetheless, this decision is seismic and carries significant implications for the British government.
Whereas Hamas is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in Britain, the British government actively supports the Israeli government in various ways including through the ongoing export of weapons. This groundbreaking action by the ICC Prosecutor must finally trigger a fundamental shift in the British government’s attitude towards Israel.
It is already a disgrace that Britain continues to export weapons to Israel at a time when Israel is on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). To refuse to halt arms sales now, when that means putting weapons into the hands of senior Israeli government leaders who stand personally accused of directing war crimes including murder and extermination, intentional attacks against a civilian population, starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, and other crimes against humanity, would be utterly obscene.
The British government must give its full support and cooperation to the ICC and ICJ to carry out their work.
Moreover, last month 1100 lawyers, academics, and retired judges, including the former President of the Supreme Court Baroness Hale, signed an open letter and legal opinion to remind the British government of its obligations under international law, which require it to take, amongst others, the following five actions:
- to work actively and effectively to secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza;
- to take all available measures to ensure safe access to and delivery of the essentials of existence and medical assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, including confirmation that UK funding to UNRWA will continue with immediate effect;
- to impose sanctions upon individuals and entities who have made statements inciting genocide against Palestinians;
- to suspend the provision of weapons and weapons systems to the Government of Israel; and
- to suspend the 2030 Road Map for UK-Israel bilateral relations and negotiations towards an enhanced trade agreement and to initiate a review into the suspension of the UK’s bilateral trade agreement with Israel and consider the imposition of sanctions.
It is long past time for the government to take these steps. If it fails to act it will make clear that it does not support International Law and is happy to aid and abet its violators. Meanwhile, we will continue all our actions to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an end to the arms trade with Israel, and justice for the Palestinian people.
Ben Jamal, PSC Director, said: “This action by the Prosecutor of the ICC has profound implications for the UK government, which must make clear that that it fully supports the ICC process and immediately halt arms sales to a state, the leader of which faces indictment for war crimes. Failure to do so will undermine any lingering suggestion that the UK supports International Law and render it further complicit in aiding and abetting serious violations of that law.”
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