Statement: MEND welcomes the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli PM former Defense Minister

This comes six months after Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan requested them, citing “reasonable grounds” for their “criminal responsibility” in crimes, including the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity such as mass murder and persecution.

Since 7th October 2023, Israel has killed over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, though a Lancet study estimates deaths may exceed 180,000.

Last week Human Rights Watch published a report entitled ‘Hopeless, Starving and Beseiged’, comprehensively detailing Israel’s crimes against humanity including forced displacement and ethnic cleansing.

Many other international experts, including Jewish academics and historians, confirm Israel’s actions amount to genocide. Despite this the British Government continues to supply Israel arms and parts for lethal F-35 fighter jets. It is thus actively participating in this genocide.

We call upon the British Government to IMMEDIATELY cease all arms sales to Israel and confirm that if these criminals enter the UK, they will comply with the ICC warrant and arrest them.