UK: 'Britain will not challenge ICC's arrest warrant against Netanyahu', new Labour government announced

The British Prime Minister's Office said on Friday that his country will not interfere with the International Criminal Court's (ICC) request for an arrest warrant against Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Britain now has a Labour Party government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Conservative Party was defeated in the recent general election. The party led by Rishi Sunak had planned to challenge this ICC warrant.

A spokesperson for Starmer said, "This was a proposal of the previous government. Which was not presented before the election. I can confirm that the (new Labour) government will not act in accordance with our long-standing position. This matter is for the court to decide." ICC prosecutor Karim Khan accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and three Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Gaza Strip and Israel.

Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders condemned the move, calling it outrageous and anti-Semitic. President Joe Biden also criticized the prosecutor, as did Sunak. He supported Israel's right to defend itself from Hamas.

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan sought warrants for Netanyahu and Galant in May over the war in Gaza. The ICC had set a deadline of Friday for the UK government to present a challenge.