Prime Minister Keir Starmer has withdrawn the UK’s opposition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The latest move indicates a slight shift in Britain’s position on Palestine since Labour took office and comes after Foreign Secretary David Lammy resumed funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). There is also speculation that Labour could follow advice from officials and halt some if not all arms exports to Israel.

Labour has been under mounting pressure from civil society organisations, human rights groups, and British Muslims to halt arms sales. If the party follows through on this potential policy shift, it could help address some of the concerns that led to Labour’s loss of key seats in the recent election.

A spokesperson for the new prime minister announced on Friday that Labour’s decision to reverse the Tory government’s opposition to the ICC prosecutor’s application for warrants against Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

“This was a proposal by the previous government which was not submitted before the election, and which I can confirm the government will not be pursuing in line with our long-standing position that this is a matter for the court to decide on.” 

In May, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for alleged war crimes during Israel’s Gaza operation. He also requested warrants for three Hamas leaders.

The Palestinian ambassador to the UK welcomed the move, calling it a “significant step” towards aligning the UK with international law and holding Israel accountable.

“Combined with the decision to reinstate funding for UNRWA, the British government has in a short time taken two necessary and positive steps towards aligning UK policy with its international legal and humanitarian commitments, facilitating a path towards a peaceful resolution,” he added.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council jointly issued a statement condemning the move.

Upholding international law

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) expressed relief at the government’s decision to drop its submission.

“Respecting the jurisdiction and independence of the ICC is the least the Labour government can do to demonstrate a genuine commitment to justice and accountability,” said ICJP legal officer Zaki Sarraf.

“They must now avoid further undermining their credibility and uphold international law.”

Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said: “This was a totally misguided intervention by the last government and we strongly welcome the decision to drop it.

“Instead of trying to thwart the ICC’s much-needed Palestine investigation, the UK should be backing efforts to bring all perpetrators of war crimes and possible genocide to justice.

“The UK’s standing as a genuine supporter of the rule of law requires consistency and even-handedness – if war crimes are wrong when carried out by Russian forces in unlawfully-occupied Ukraine, then they’re equally wrong when carried out by Israeli forces in unlawfully-occupied Palestinian territory.”

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has resulted in a devastating toll, with over 39,000 Palestinians killed and 90,257 wounded in the besieged occupied territory.

Lammy recently made his first major announcement to the House of Commons regarding the situation in Gaza, confirming that the government will reinstate funding to UNRWA. The UK will provide £21 million in new support to the agency.

The funding had been suspended in January by the previous administration.

Lammy said at the Commons: “Partners like Japan, the European Union and Norway have also now acted. The government will act too.

“I can confirm to the House that we are overturning the suspension of UNRWA funding.”

He added: “Humanitarian aid is a moral necessity in the face of such a catastrophe and it is aid agencies who ensure UK support reaches civilians on the ground.

“UNRWA is absolutely central to these efforts. No other agency can get aid into Gaza at the scale needed.”