Indicating it could arrest Netanyahu, UK gov’t says it will always comply with international ‘legal obligations’

The British government indicates that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested on an International Criminal Court arrest warrant if he traveled to the United Kingdom.

“The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law,” says Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman.

Asked directly whether Netanyahu would be arrested, the spokesman says he will not “talk about specific cases.”

The UK is one of the 124 ICC member states.

Yesterday, a spokesperson had said more vaguely: “We respect the independence of the International Criminal Court, which is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern.”

Earlier today, meanwhile, Ireland’s Prime Minister Simon Harris said Netanyahu would be detained if he arrived there.

Asked by state broadcaster RTE if Ireland would arrest the Israeli prime minister if he came to Ireland, Harris said: “Yes, absolutely.”

“We support international courts and we apply their warrants,” he added.

Relations between Ireland and Israel have deteriorated since Dublin recognized a Palestinian state last May, a move that prompted Israel to recall its ambassador.

Ireland’s foreign minister Micheal Martin said Friday he disagreed with US President Joe Biden’s depiction of the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant as “outrageous.”

Martin said war crimes have been committed in Gaza: “It’s a collective punishment of the people… it’s genocidal,” he said.