The Government has dropped the Conservatives’ plan to challenge the International Criminal Court’s application for an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu.
Downing Street confirmed on Friday afternoon that the Government will not submit an objection.
“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,” a spokeswoman said.
She noted that the Government believes very strongly in the separation of powers and the rule of law domestically and internationally.
“I think you would note that the courts have already received a number of submissions on either side, so they are well seized of the arguments to make their independent determinations,” she said.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in May requested arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Mr Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant over Israel’s war in Gaza.
Rishi Sunak’s government had told the ICC it intended to submit arguments questioning whether the ICC had the right to order the arrest of Israeli nationals.
But Cabinet minister Wes Streeting told Sky News on Friday: “We believe very strongly in the rule of law, that’s not just domestically but internationally, and the separation of powers between judges and politicians.
“Everyone has got to be held accountable under the law.
“The second thing I would say in terms of this devastating conflict in Gaza, we have been very clear, we need an immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages and a serious process to deliver lasting peace for the Israelis and the Palestinians, the two-state solution is the only solution.”
Earlier, a No10 spokeswoman reiterated the Government’s emphasis on the independence of the Hague-based war crimes court and its chief prosecutor.
She also said “we reject the overall characterisation” in a New York Times article noting the UK would be edging away from its close ally the US on the conflict were it to ditch an appeal contesting the court’s jurisdiction over Israeli citizens.
The spokeswoman said: “We reject the overall characterisation in that piece. The Government has been clear about Israel’s right to self-defence and its right to respond to a terror attack in line with international humanitarian law.
“We’ve been in lockstep with the US on this matter and also in our efforts with the US and other allies in terms of promoting regional stability.”
The newspaper’s report is titled “UK’s Policy on Israel, Long Aligned With America’s, Veers Away”, after the ICC’s efforts to seek arrest warrants have been widely denounced in Washington.
The Downing Street spokeswoman continued: “On the ICC, we’ve also spoken consistently about the importance of the independence of both the prosecutor and the court. It is for the prosecutor and the court to make a decision.
“Now, with regard to the previous government’s proposals around a submission, we are looking at that but I don’t have any further updates.”
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in May requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Mr Netanyahu and Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, over the latest conflict.
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh, along with the group's military chief Mohammed Deif, are also wanted for arrest.
Rishi Sunak’s government had told the ICC it intended to submit arguments questioning whether the ICC had the right to order the arrests it was seeking.
The ICC has given the Labour Government until Friday to decide whether to pursue the legal bid.
