LONDON (CU)_Palestine says that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s move to oppose an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into alleged war crimes that were committed Israeli-occupied territories undermines UK’s credibility on the international stage.
In a letter written to the Conservative Friends of Israel parliamentary group, PM Johnson said that while the UK continues to respect the independence of the international tribunal, however, it does not accept that the ICC has jurisdiction over the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, owing to the fact that Israel is not party to the Statute of Rome, and that Palestine is not a sovereign state.
“This investigation gives the impression of being a partial and prejudicial attack on a friend and ally of the UK’s,” the letter read.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s comments, Palestine said the move was “deeply regrettable” and was in contradiction of international law, as well as British policy.
“It marks a low point in UK-Palestine relations and undermines the UK’s credibility on the international stage,” a statement posted on the website of Palestine’s diplomatic mission to the UK said. “The letter is a contradiction of international law. It is a contradiction of British policy. It subverts the rules-based global order. And it sets back efforts to secure a lasting and just peace in Palestine.”
It went on to say that the Prime Minister’s letter makes it clear that the UK believes Israel is above the law, as there is no other interpretation to the statement. It pointed out that while the British leader claims to support the mission of the ICC, on the other hand, he argues that the Court’s mission cannot extend to Israel owing to the mere fact that it is a “friend and ally” of the UK.
In its statement, Palestine also pointed out that the UK raised no objection when Palestine became a signatory to the Rome Statute, and therefore it has every right to pursue claims at the Court, on behalf of victims of war crimes.
“If Mr Johnson disputes this, he disputes the legitimacy of the Court,” the statement added. “Moreover, he contradicts stated British policy, which is clear that settlements are a violation of international law and therefore a war crime.”
It was concluded by urging the United Kingdom to reconsider its position, and to understand that supporting the investigation is the best option for everyone, including Israel.
In December 2019, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda concluded that the ICC’s initial findings are a sufficient basis for an investigation into war crimes being committed in Palestinian territories of West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, and she named both the Israeli Defence Forces and Hamas as possible perpetrators.
However, Israel claims that the ICC has no authority over the situation, since it does not recognise the Court’s jurisdiction and the Palestinian Authority is not a sovereign state.
Nevertheless, the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, an internationally recognised representative for Palestinians, has expressed its intention to pursue the case. Therefore, earlier this year, the Court ruled that it did have jurisdiction over the situation, on the basis of Palestine’s 2015 accession to the Rome Statute after its acceptance as a “non-member observer state” of the UN General Assembly in 2012.
Meanwhile, several pro-Palestinian charities in the UK have also denounced PM Johnson’s letter, accusing the British leader of “political interference” in the court’s work.
