Boris Johnson Accuses Starmer of Aligning with Hamas Over ICC Netanyahu Arrest Warrant

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Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has launched a scathing attack on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of "effectively standing with Hamas" following the International Criminal Court's (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Writing in his Daily Mail column, Johnson alleged that Starmer and Labour have implicitly supported the ICC's actions, which also target former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes related to the Gaza conflict.  

 

Johnson criticized what he called Labour’s “acceptance of moral equivalence between Hamas and Israel," accusing the opposition party of equating “terrorists and their victims.” His comments reflect growing tensions surrounding the UK government’s stance on the ICC's decisions. While Downing Street affirmed its respect for the ICC's independence, it declined to rule out enforcing the arrest warrant if Netanyahu were to visit the UK.  

 

The UK, as one of the 123 member states of the ICC, is obliged to uphold the court's rulings. The ICC also issued a warrant for Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, whom Israel claimed was killed in an airstrike earlier this year.  

 

Johnson’s criticism extended beyond Starmer to the ICC itself. "Instead of standing with Israel, Starmer is effectively standing with Hamas—because he has cravenly endorsed the request, from the International Criminal Court, that the leaders of Israel should be charged with war crimes," Johnson wrote. He questioned the sincerity of Starmer’s past support for Israel, describing his previous expressions of solidarity following the October 7 Hamas terror attacks as “guff, hypocrisy, and blather.”  

 

He further argued that the ICC’s actions were misplaced, stating, “We are treating them like Slobodan Milosevic and Ratko Mladic, the butchers of the Balkans, when this ICC case is patently absurd. The Hague court is designed for tyrants—like Putin or Milosevic—who have no chance of facing justice in their own country. The ICC is supposed to ‘complement’ any potential failure of due process.”  

 

Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, also expressed alarm, labeling the ICC decision as “deeply concerning and provocative.” She warned that it could hinder efforts to release hostages and deliver critical aid to Gaza.  

 

International backlash against the ICC’s move has been swift, with the United States and allies condemning the decision. A White House spokesperson dismissed the arrest warrants, emphasizing the lack of US jurisdiction under the ICC and citing procedural flaws in the prosecutor’s actions. President Joe Biden’s administration expressed "deep concern" about the implications of the court’s rulings.  

 

Donald Trump’s allies also criticized the ICC, with his pick for National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, declaring on X: “The ICC has no credibility, and these allegations have been refuted by the US government.”  

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-11-25