British PM under fire for opposing ICC Israeli war crimes probe in West Bank and Gaza

The charities have warned that Boris Johnson’s criticism of the investigation sets a dangerous precedent, and the Palestinian mission in London said it undermines British credibility globally.

Johnson said in a recent letter to the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) network that the ICC investigation “gives the impression of being a partial and prejudicial attack on a friend and ally of the UK’s”.

“We do not accept that the ICC has jurisdiction in this instance given that Israel is not a party to the Statute of Rome and Palestine is not a sovereign state,” he added.

The letter, which was tweeted out by the CFI, was welcomed by the CFI’s chairman Stephen Crabb MP and CFI’s president Lord Polak. 

But 12 British charities including Christian Aid, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights and Medical Aid for Palestinians slammed the statement as “political interference”, adding that the UK is setting a “wholly dangerous precedent.” 

Separately the Palestinian mission in the UK called the letter “a contradiction of international law” and said it sets back efforts “to secure a lasting and just peace in Palestine.” 

“It marks a low point in UK-Palestine relations and undermines the UK’s credibility on the international stage,” they said in a statement. 

Labour MP Julie Elliot sent a letter to Downing Street saying Mr Johnson’s letter “flies in the face of judicial independence and international law”.

In March the ICC opened a formal investigation into alleged war crimes committed in the OPT by both Israelis and Palestinians, including the Israeli army and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said she would examine the 2014 Gaza war, the 2018 Gaza border protests, and Israeli settlements in occupied territory.

The joint statement by British charities rejecting the prime minister’s letter said: “This investigation is bringing victims, survivors and their families one step closer to justice – but political interference by  states, such as the UK, risks pushing that out of reach.” 

The Palestinians said, “It is clear that the UK now believes Israel is above the law.”