UK Faces Legal and Diplomatic Challenges Over ICC Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu

Legal experts and political leaders emphasize that the UK cannot lawfully arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to his immunity under international and domestic law.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Legal experts, including Lord Wolfson KC and Prof. Richard Ekins, assert that UK law recognizes Netanyahu's immunity as a serving head of government from a state not party to the Rome Statute, making any arrest unlawful.
The UK government has not clarified its stance, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration stating it respects the ICC's independence but refusing to confirm whether Netanyahu would be arrested if he visits the UK.
The arrest warrant has sparked international divisions, with some ICC member states pledging to enforce it, while others, including Germany and Hungary, have signaled they will not comply due to historical or political considerations.
The United States has strongly condemned the ICC's decision, with bipartisan criticism in Congress and calls for measures to shield Israeli officials from prosecution, raising tensions between the US and ICC member states.