Quick Hit:

The UK is expected to drop its previous Conservative government's opposition to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signaling a major policy shift under the new Labour government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Key Details:

• Policy Reversal: Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, is poised to allow the ICC to proceed with its efforts to secure an arrest warrant against Netanyahu, diverging sharply from the stance of the US and the prior UK government.
• Support for UNRWA: The UK government announced it will resume funding the UN agency aiding Palestinians, UNRWA, citing improved neutrality standards, despite Israeli criticisms linking the agency to the October 7 attacks.
• Legal and Political Implications: This move could deepen the political and legal rift between the UK and Israel, while also potentially straining UK-US relations.

Diving Deeper:

For nearly a year, the UK’s Conservative government maintained a close alignment with the United States concerning Israel's conflict in Gaza. However, a significant policy shift is underway with the new Labour government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. By the end of this week, Starmer is expected to abandon the previous administration’s objections to the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s pursuit of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This information comes from two individuals briefed on the government’s deliberations, who requested anonymity due to the political sensitivities of the issue.

Last week, the UK government announced the resumption of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), having determined that the agency now meets “the highest standards of neutrality.” This move comes despite Israeli accusations that some UNRWA employees were involved in the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7. Together, these steps indicate a government willing to increase pressure on Netanyahu for Israel’s severe military response in Gaza and show Starmer’s inclination towards international legal institutions, unlike the U.S.

In May, President Biden condemned the ICC prosecutor’s effort to obtain arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as “outrageous.” The Republican-controlled House of Representatives even passed legislation imposing sanctions on ICC officials. However, the UK’s new Labour government has not yet taken concrete measures like halting weapons shipments to Israel, as officials await the results of a legal review on whether Israel is violating human rights laws.

While the government has not disclosed its planned response to the ICC, Starmer has expressed support for the court and international law. His predecessor, Rishi Sunak, labeled the pursuit of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant as “deeply unhelpful.” 

Zaki Sarraf, a legal officer for the International Center of Justice for Palestinians, urged the government to take a clear position, highlighting that Starmer had praised the court when it sought an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. “International law must be applied without fear or favor, and he must support these arrest warrants, too,” Sarraf stated.

Initially, Starmer backed the Conservative government’s staunch support of Israel while also calling for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. Later, he called for an immediate cease-fire, but not quickly enough to satisfy the party’s left-wing or many Muslim supporters. This balancing act did not prevent backlash at the polls, even as Labour won a landslide victory.

"Keir Starmer and Joe Biden" by Number 10 licensed under CC BY 2.0 DEED.