UK Labour reaffirms backing of ICC as Israeli leaders face arrest warrants

UK Shadow Foreign Secretary confirms the opposition party’s stance on the court’s efforts, stating it is the ‘cornerstone’ of international law.

The New Arab Staff & Agencies
22 May, 2024


Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, stands in front of the Martyrs Monument and the Al Amin Mosque in Martyrs Square in downtown Beirut during a visit to Lebanon [Photo by Oliver Marsden/ Middle East Images/ Middle East Images via AFP]

The UK’s Labour Party has reaffirmed its backing of the International Criminal Court (ICC), after its chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced a request for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes.

The Labour Party's shadow secretary, David Lammy, defended the world court and argued the importance of the ICC’s independence.

This comes after a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared that the ICC prosecutor's decision to request an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "unhelpful".

"This action is not helpful in relation to reaching a pause in the fighting, getting hostages out or getting humanitarian aid in," the spokesperson said, referring to the decision made by the prosecutor of the ICC.

The spokesperson also claimed the ICC did not have the jurisdiction to request the arrest warrants.

Following the UK government’s response, Lammy spoke to members of the British parliament on Monday to emphasise that international laws must be abided by.

"Labour has been clear throughout this conflict that international law must be upheld," Lammy said.

"The independence of international courts must be respected."

RELATED
ICJP files Gaza war crimes complaint against British officials
MENA
The New Arab Staff

He added that "arrest warrants are not a conviction or determination of guilt, but they do reflect the evidence and judgement of the prosecutor about the grounds for individual criminal responsibility".

In a direct jab to his political opponents, Lammy also posed the following question: "Does the Conservative party, the party of Churchill...believe in international rule of law or not?"

The British deputy foreign minister Andrew Mitchell later told parliament that the ICC's decision would not have an immediate impact on the government's approval of licences so companies can sell weapons to Israel.

"The fact that the prosecutor has applied for arrest warrants to be issued does not directly impact, for example, on UK licensing decisions but we will continue to monitor developments," Mitchell said.

Labour has stepped up its criticism within the past month against the Conservative government on its response to the war on Gaza.

The opposition group pushed for the Tories to publish legal advice on Israel’s military conduct in the besieged territory, while urging government ministers to halt weapons supply to Israel if legal experts found there were international law violations in Gaza.

RELATED
Poll shows most British people in favour of Gaza ceasefire
World
The New Arab Staff

However, Labour has faced criticism following Labour leader Keir Starmer’s stance, who had asserted Israel's "right to defend itself" and refusal to back an immediate ceasefire, causing many members to resign.

A group of councillors have since resigned from the party after 7 October over Starmer's position, while eight shadow ministers and two parliamentary secretaries quit the party in November after 56 MPs backed the motion of Scottish National Party (SNP) calling for a ceasefire.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 35,7000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since 7 October, and wounded at least 79,990 others.

The bombing campaign has devastated entire parts of the enclave, and plunged the Strip into a deep humanitarian crisis.

France stands by decision not to recognize Palestinian state

EU countries are divided on whether to recognize a Palestinian state or not

The formal recognition of a Palestinian state has been the long-term objective of Western countries supporting a two-state solution. | Lionel Bonaventure/Getty Images

MAY 22, 2024 

BY CLEA CAULCUTT AND HANS VON DER BURCHARD

WEIMAR, Germany — French Foreign Minister Stephane Séjourné said recognizing a Palestinian state is not “taboo,” but that the timing was not right to do so.

Speaking at a press conference in Weimar, Séjourné said “the impact of recognizing a Palestinian state now would not have much impact” given the diplomatic deadlock between Israel and Palestinian leaders.

“The logic is that the peace process leads to the state recognition… not that recognition is a diplomatic end in itself,” he said, alongside his Polish and German counterparts.

The comments come after Ireland, Norway and Sweden announced earlier Wednesday they would recognize a Palestinian state, sparking fury in Israel.

The French minister was in Weimar for three-way talks with Poland and Germany focused on defense, industrial defense policy, Ukraine and EU diplomacy.

The formal recognition of a Palestinian state has been the long-term objective of Western countries supporting a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories. But with Israel’s war against Hamas grinding on, some countries are moving towards state recognition as a political gesture.

The recognition has also highlighted EU divisions over its approach to the conflict in the Middle East.

At the press conference, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, whose country is not in favor of recognition, said the focus should be “on political solutions” and “concrete talks.”

“The hostages that are held must be liberated, humanitarian aid must enter Gaza. Without that it is not real to imagine a diplomatic solution for the Palestinians,” she said.