International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) on Monday issued Labour Party leadership with a notice of intention to prosecute UK politicians for their role in aiding and abetting Israel’s perpetration of war crimes.
Last Saturday, ICJP issued Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with a stark warning that UK government officials could be individually liable for their role in aiding and abetting Israeli war crimes based on their public statements of unequivocal support of Israel.
This remarkable development comes at a time when Scotland Yard’s War Crimes Unit have opened calls for evidence relating to war crimes in the region. This could lead to senior politicians being prosecuted for war crimes by Scotland Yard.
Individuals could also be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court.
Earlier on Monday, Ione Belarra, leader of the far-left Podemos, the junior member of Spain’s ruling coalition on Monday urged the government to bring Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the International Criminal Court for war crimes.
Last week, both Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition, and Emily Thornberry, Shadow Attorney General, spoke out in defence of Israel’s withholding of food, water and electricity to Gaza. They justified this collective punishment based on ‘Israel’s right to defend itself’.
David Lammy has also been issued with the notice that Labour politicians could be liable, in his capacity as Shadow Foreign Secretary.
“Both politicians are human rights lawyers and should be well aware that this argument does not justify collective punishment, which is illegal under international law. ICJP sent a private letter to the Shadow Attorney General last week, urging Labour Party politicians to comply with international law or action would be taken, and now a notice to prosecute has been issued,” ICJP statement added.
