The International Criminal Court (ICC) has made a big move against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the conflict in Gaza. The court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, and if he ever visits the UK, British officials say they may have no choice but to arrest him.
Here’s where it gets interesting. The UK government has said it will always follow international law and its own legal rules. A spokesperson from 10 Downing Street, the British Prime Minister’s office, explained that if Netanyahu set foot in Britain, the country would have to honor the ICC’s warrant. This is because the UK is a member of the ICC, and the law says they must act if someone wanted by the court comes to their soil.
But here’s the twist: The UK has never had to use this power before. No one accused by the ICC has ever visited the country, so the issue has never come up. That means, while they could arrest Netanyahu, it’s something they’ve never had to deal with in practice.
On one hand, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it would be wrong for her to comment too much, because the ICC is an independent body. She pointed out that the UK government focuses more on calling for a ceasefire in Gaza rather than getting involved with the ICC’s legal processes. But on the other hand, Emily Thornberry, a senior MP, was much clearer. She said that if Netanyahu came to the UK, Britain would have no choice but to arrest him under the ICC warrant, because the law is clear.
Meanwhile, Israel has strongly rejected the ICC’s accusations. Netanyahu’s office called the charges “absurd and false.” The US also sided with Israel, saying the ICC’s decision was deeply concerning and flawed.
So far, several European countries have made it clear they would follow the ICC’s order. Countries like the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, and Norway have all said they would arrest Netanyahu if he visits. However, France has expressed that while they recognize the ICC warrant, arresting Netanyahu would be a complicated legal matter.
And while most European leaders are staying out of the controversy, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has taken a different approach. He has invited Netanyahu to visit Hungary, stating that the ICC’s arrest warrant “won’t have any effect” in his country.
With so many moving parts, the drama surrounding Netanyahu’s possible arrest is far from over. The world is watching to see whether Netanyahu will risk a visit to the UK—and what would happen if he does.
