Human rights campaigners want a court order to halt UK weapons sales to Israel after the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants against its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant.

The Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network said it informed the government of its “intention to file for ‘interim relief’ or an emergency injunction with the UK High Court over their failure to revoke all arms export licences and crucially over ‘material errors of law’.”

“The deadline for the government to reply is Friday 29 November at 4pm, after which time the legal action proceeds,” it added.

The move comes after the ICC found reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators for the war crime of starvation and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

Labour proposed a partial ban on arms sales to Israel, excluding parts for F-35 fighter jets used in Gaza bombings earlier this year.

On Social media, Labour MP Zarah Sultana said the government “must end ALL arms sales NOW.”
“The UK is now arming suspected war criminals who have been indicted by the world’s pre-eminent criminal court, the ICC,” she added.

Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn also raised the issue of arms sales to Israel in parliament.

There is widespread support in the UK from the British public for a ban on selling arms to Israel. In a YouGov poll in August, an overwhelming majority of the British public, 84%, said ICC arrest warrants should be respected.

“UK is now arming suspected war criminals”

“It is unconscionable that the UK continues to allow British-made components for F-35s to be used in Israel’s extermination campaign against Palestinians,” said a lawyer with GLAN, Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe.

“As of Thursday, the UK is now arming suspected war criminals who have been indicted by the world’s pre-eminent criminal court.

“For 13 months, GLAN and Al Haq have argued that weapons sales to Israel are unlawful. When will it be enough? Does the UK Government have any red lines?”

Al-Haq spokesperson Zainah El-Haroun said, “The latest arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Gallant for the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity add to the insurmountable evidence that British weapons, particularly F-35 components, are being used to commit international crimes, including genocide.

“A two-way arms embargo on Israel should be implemented immediately, to prevent British arms being used by indicted war criminals for further serious violations against Palestinians.”

Earlier in the week, Downing Street indicated that Netanyahu faces arrest if he enters British soil following the ICC ruling.

While No 10 avoided explicit confirmation, a spokesman said the government would follow its legal obligations.