According to reports in the country’s press, a spokesman from the UK Prime Minister’s Office, Number 10, said that the new government under Starmer would not follow up on the previous government’s objection, saying that this was a matter for the court to decide. The spokesman stressed that the government’s decision was neither an objection nor an approval of the ICC’s case against Netanyahu, and said, “The government strongly believes in the rule of law and the separation of powers.” The spokesman noted that the court should make independent decisions.
Starmer made a statement on the issue in May, saying, “The court should be able to make its decision when the time comes. I support the court and international law.”
On 10 June, the UK had requested a written statement to submit observations on “whether the ICC could exercise jurisdiction over Israeli citizens in circumstances where Palestine was unable to exercise criminal jurisdiction over Israeli citizens under the Oslo Accords.” In its decision on 27 June, the ICC Preliminary Review Chamber accepted the UK’s request and instructed it to submit written observations by 12 July.
There was that criticism Britain’s attempt to submit an opinion would slow down the already slow-moving ICC investigation into Palestine, while Britain’s statements had indicated that it could oppose the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant.
It was reported in the press that the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who took office in the UK on July 6, did not intend to oppose the arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Galant, unlike the Sunak government.
The Labour-led government in London also announced on July 19 that it would continue the funding it cut to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in January. In a statement from the British Foreign Office, Minister David Lammy stated that the cut in support of £21 million would continue to be paid to UNRWA.
Of the £21 million support the UK will provide to UNRWA, £6 million will be used for projects targeting those in urgent need in Gaza and the West Bank, while £15 million will be used for projects addressing basic needs in the West Bank.
Following complaints that some UNRWA staff were involved in the attacks on October 7, 2023, the UK announced on January 27 that it was halting its support to the institution.
