UK legally obliged to arrest Netanyahu on British soil, experts say

Legal experts and commentators have told Middle East Eye that there would be an obligation to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he set foot on British soil, after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and for former defence minister Yoav Gallant.

The UK is a member state of the ICC, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government has yet to comment on the court's decision.

In July, Britain dropped its objection to an arrest warrant being issued, which was filed by the previous Conservative government. 

The Labour government said "this is a matter for the court to decide on". Now the court has decided.

Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of a range of war crimes and crimes against humanity over atrocities committed since 7 October last year. The court has also issued a warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif. 

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