UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed support for the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This move follows allegations that Israel, under Netanyahu's leadership, used food as a weapon in its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza a charge that Israeli officials have firmly denied.
The ICC, based in The Hague, has also issued warrants for former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant and leaders of Hamas. As a member of the ICC, the United Kingdom, along with 123 other countries, is now obligated to detain Netanyahu if he enters their territory.
A spokesperson for Downing Street stated, "We respect the independence of the ICC," while emphasizing that there is no "moral equivalence" between democratically elected leaders and terrorist organizations.
This legal action by the ICC could further isolate Netanyahu on the global stage and complicate efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. The situation highlights the tension between international legal proceedings and the political dynamics involving democratic states and militant groups.
Netanyahu has condemned the ICC's actions, stating that Israel "rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions" by the court. He defended Israel's military operations, asserting, "There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza."
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