JOHN Swinney has responded to the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli president, alongside his former defence minister Yoav Gallan and former Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks.
The decision turns Netanyahu into an internationally wanted suspect and will likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a ceasefire to end the 13-month conflict.
Speaking after First Minister's Questions on Thursday, the First Minister said that the move from the ICC "should be complied with" (below).
He told journalists at Holyrood: "Obviously this news has just emerged as I've been in FMQs, so I've not had the opportunity to consider any of this in detail, but of course what the the ICC has set out is very important.
"As an individual who respects international law and domestic law, obviously I want to make sure that those issues are properly and fully taken forward and they should be complied with."
SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn, meanwhile, said that Keir Starmer "must confirm" that the UK Government will comply with the ICC and "do its bit" to enforce the arrest warrant.
“The Prime Minister must also apologise for having previously condoned the Israeli government’s war crimes in Gaza - and now commit to ending all UK arms sales to Israel with immediate effect," he said.
He added: "There is no question that the actions of Hamas on October 7th constitute an appalling war crime - but that did not give the Israeli government the green light to carry out its own war crimes against innocent Palestinian civilians.
“More than 40,000 Palestinian women, children and men have been killed since the bombardment of Gaza began - and thousands more have been injured or displaced.
"The Israeli government stands accused of deliberate attacks on civilians and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The UK government must finally stand firmly on the side of justice and human rights - not the criminal collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
The ICC has finally issued arrest warrants. PM must make an urgent statement confirming the UK will comply with international obligations. They must end all arm sales to Israel immediately and impose sanctions. It is time those responsible for war crimes are held accountable. pic.twitter.com/DXd207pn4H
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) November 21, 2024
Former first minister Humza Yousaf also reacted, saying in a video on Twitter/X (above) that "it is time" those who have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity are "finally" held accountable.
The three-judge panel reached a unanimous decision to issue warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
They wrote: “The chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in September that it had submitted two legal briefs challenging the ICC’s jurisdiction and arguing that the court did not provide Israel the opportunity to investigate the allegations itself before requesting the warrants.
“No other democracy with an independent and respected legal system like that which exists in Israel has been treated in this prejudicial manner by the prosecutor,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote on X.
He said Israel remained “steadfast in its commitment to the rule of law and justice” and would continue to protect its citizens against militancy.
The ICC is a court of last resort that only prosecutes cases when domestic law enforcement authorities cannot or will not investigate. Israel is not a member state of the court and the country has struggled to investigate itself in the past, human rights groups have said.
Despite the warrants, none of the suspects is likely to face judges in The Hague any time soon.
The court has no police to enforce warrants, instead relying on cooperation from its member states.
