The newly elected Labour government in the United Kingdom is expected to abandon a bid to delay the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision on whether to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza, according to reporting from The Guardian.
The previous Conservative government had secretly filed a challenge on June 10, questioning the ICC's jurisdiction over Israeli nationals in relation to alleged war crimes in Gaza. However, Labour officials have now briefed that the party continues to believe the ICC, based in The Hague, does have jurisdiction over Gaza.
This reversal could have far-reaching implications for the ICC's ongoing investigation, potentially clearing the way for the court to issue arrest warrant. The ICC's pre-trial chamber had given the UK until July 12 to submit its full claim, but sources indicate it is now highly unlikely that the new government will proceed with the challenge.
The previous government, under Rishi Sunak, joined Israel in fighting against the chief prosecutors of the court Karim Khan after he submitted an application to have the court issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the Gaza War for alleged war crimes, along with Hamas leaders.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced plans to review several key issues, including future funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the legal advice given to the previous government regarding UK arms sales to Israel. Lammy stated, "We did raise issues about the funding of the dispatch box, and real concerns that did not want the situation where the UK was contributing to tremendous hardship already in Gaza."
Addressing concerns about Labour's position and its impact on Muslim voter support, Lammy emphasized the party's commitment to international humanitarian law. He said, "I have been crystal clear on the international humanitarian law. There will be no resiling from that, because it's important that we are all seen to uphold the rules-based order at a time particularly when authoritarian states are discarding it."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a phone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday, affirmed his belief in the Palestinians' "undeniable right to a Palestinian state." Starmer discussed the "ongoing suffering and devastating loss of life" in Gaza with Abbas, signaling a potential shift in the UK's approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In a separate call with Netanyahu, Starmer emphasized the "clear and urgent" need for a ceasefire in Gaza. He also stressed the importance of establishing long-term conditions for a two-state solution, including ensuring the Palestinian Authority has the necessary financial means to operate effectively, as reported by The Guardian.
The foreign secretary also expressed deep concerns about the future governance of Gaza, rejecting the possibility of Hamas playing a role. "It's hard to see how an organization that's not committed to a two-state solution, and is committed to terrorism, can be part of that solution," Lammy stated, according to The Guardian. He acknowledged the challenges facing the Palestinian Authority, adding, "This is going to take a lot of work with our partners."
