Key facts
- London Mayor Sadiq Khan stated that Benjamin Netanyahu is committing genocide in Gaza.
- Khan indicated he would lobby the UK government to enforce an ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu if he visited London.
- Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant were issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- The UK is a signatory to the Rome Statute and obligated to arrest Netanyahu if he enters the country.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has declared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is perpetrating genocide in Gaza and stated he would lobby the UK government to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant should Netanyahu visit the city. Khan's remarks follow similar statements from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who called Netanyahu a war criminal.
Khan expressed his belief that a genocide is being committed in Gaza and that Netanyahu is responsible and has broken the law. He indicated that if there was any evidence of Netanyahu planning a visit to London, he would urge the UK Prime Minister to ensure the law is enforced, concluding that "People who commit genocide are not welcome in London."
Netanyahu and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant were issued arrest warrants in November 2024 by the ICC on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to actions in Gaza since October 2023. This marked the first time the court issued warrants for senior officials from a Western-allied nation. While the ICC has no enforcement powers, state parties to the Rome Statute, including the UK, are obligated to arrest and surrender individuals subject to such warrants. The US and Israel are not signatories to the Rome Statute.