Israel lashes Starmer for dropping challenge to ICC Netanyahu warrant

Keir Starmer has opened up a diplomatic row with Israel after the UK abandoned its challenge to the ICC arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu.

Keir Starmer won’t challenge the ICC proceedings against Benjamin Netanyahu. Picture: Getty Images.

Sir Keir Starmer has opened up a diplomatic row with Binyamin Netanyahu after Britain abandoned its challenge at the International Criminal Court to the arrest warrant proceedings against the Israeli prime minister.

A senior Israeli official denounced the “fundamentally wrong decision” after No 10 confirmed yesterday that the UK would not pursue its case at the Hague. Britain was given a deadline to submit arguments after it challenged the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israeli citizens for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

It came after Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, applied for arrest warrants targeting Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, and the senior Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh.

As the deadline passed, a No 10 spokesman confirmed: “The government will not be pursuing this in line with our longstanding position that it’s a matter for the courts to decide.”

Netanyahu is in the US rallying support for Israel before the presidential elections while battling for his own political survival back home.

Between meetings with President Biden, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, a senior Israeli official criticised Starmer’s decision during a briefing.

“Israel is deeply disappointed by this fundamentally wrong decision,” the senior official said, according to the Times of Israel. “It is contrary to justice and truth and violates the right of all democracies to fight terrorism.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara with Donald Trump Mar-a-Lago. Picture; AFP.

Pro-Palestinian groups welcomed the news – the latest in a series of policy shifts under Labour that has placed strain on relations with Israel. “Respecting the jurisdiction and independence of the ICC is the least the Labour government can do to demonstrate a genuine commitment to justice and accountability,” Zaki Sarraf, legal officer for the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, said.

Having restored funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the agency responsible for dispensing aid in Gaza, David Lammy, the foreign secretary, is expected to go further by publishing legal advice on selling arms to Israel. The publication could result in a ban on the sale of offensive weapons.

Starmer’s decision to withdraw Britain’s ICC challenge is unlikely to affect the arrest warrant proceedings at the Hague as Germany has submitted arguments in support of Netanyahu.

Labour Friends of Israel described Starmer’s decision as “deeply disappointing”. Labour’s landslide election victory was marred by the loss of four seats to pro-Palestinian candidates.

The Times