UK indicates readiness to detain Netanyahu
The UK has announced that it will fulfill its commitments to the ICC by detaining the Israeli prime minister if he visits the country, according to a statement from London. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
London has indicated it would adhere to the ICC war crimes warrant concerning the Israeli leader.
A spokesman for 10 Downing Street stated that the UK would likely comply with the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit the country. The ICC, based in The Hague, announced on Thursday its intention to seek Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict—a move that has been condemned by both Israel and the US.
“The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law, and indeed international law,” the spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer communicated to British media on Friday. However, he noted that the UK has never utilized domestic procedures related to ICC arrest warrants, as no individuals wanted by the court have ever traveled to the UK.
Earlier, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper remarked that it “wouldn’t be appropriate” for her to comment on the warrant, emphasizing the ICC’s status as an independent institution. “We’ve always respected the importance of international law, but in the majority of the cases that they pursue, they don’t become part of the British legal process,” she explained to Sky News. “What I can say is that obviously, the UK government’s position remains that we believe the focus should be on getting a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Labour MP Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, made a more assertive statement regarding the situation. “If Netanyahu comes to Britain, our obligation under the Rome Convention would be to arrest him under the warrant from the ICC,” Thornberry stated. “Not really a question of should, we are required to because we are members of the ICC.”
In response, Netanyahu's office stated that Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions leveled against it by ICC.” A spokesperson for the US National Security Council declared that the US “fundamentally rejects” the ICC's decision and is “deeply concerned” about the “troubling process errors” that contributed to it.
So far, several countries—including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, and Norway—have expressed their intention to comply with the ICC warrant. However, France has acknowledged the warrant's legitimacy while stating that arresting the Israeli leader would be “legally complex.”
Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has extended an invitation for Netanyahu to visit Budapest, asserting that the ICC warrant “will have no effect” within the EU and NATO member state.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
A spokesman for 10 Downing Street stated that the UK would likely comply with the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit the country. The ICC, based in The Hague, announced on Thursday its intention to seek Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict—a move that has been condemned by both Israel and the US.
“The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law, and indeed international law,” the spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer communicated to British media on Friday. However, he noted that the UK has never utilized domestic procedures related to ICC arrest warrants, as no individuals wanted by the court have ever traveled to the UK.
Earlier, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper remarked that it “wouldn’t be appropriate” for her to comment on the warrant, emphasizing the ICC’s status as an independent institution. “We’ve always respected the importance of international law, but in the majority of the cases that they pursue, they don’t become part of the British legal process,” she explained to Sky News. “What I can say is that obviously, the UK government’s position remains that we believe the focus should be on getting a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Labour MP Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, made a more assertive statement regarding the situation. “If Netanyahu comes to Britain, our obligation under the Rome Convention would be to arrest him under the warrant from the ICC,” Thornberry stated. “Not really a question of should, we are required to because we are members of the ICC.”
In response, Netanyahu's office stated that Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions leveled against it by ICC.” A spokesperson for the US National Security Council declared that the US “fundamentally rejects” the ICC's decision and is “deeply concerned” about the “troubling process errors” that contributed to it.
So far, several countries—including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, and Norway—have expressed their intention to comply with the ICC warrant. However, France has acknowledged the warrant's legitimacy while stating that arresting the Israeli leader would be “legally complex.”
Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has extended an invitation for Netanyahu to visit Budapest, asserting that the ICC warrant “will have no effect” within the EU and NATO member state.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
