More than 100 MPs, lords urge UK to support ICC following arrest warrants request

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - More than 100 lawmakers and lords in the UK urged the government to condemn any threats to undermine the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the prosecutor applied for arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders.

"We urge you to condemn any threats and attempts to undermine the independence and impartiality of the International Criminal Court in its investigations into crimes in Gaza," the MPs and lords from 11 parties said in a letter.

The letter written Tuesday to Foreign Secretary David Cameron also urged the government to do all it can to support the ICC in ensuring accountability and justice for the victims.

"We believe that there is mounting evidence that Israel has committed clear and obvious violations of international law in Gaza and strongly believe that those responsible must be held to account," it said.

They are also "deeply alarmed" that earlier this month, the office of the prosecutor felt compelled to issue a statement calling for "all attempts to impede, intimidate or improperly influence its officials cease immediately."

"While the Prosecutor's Office did not explicitly refer to threats made following press reports about the potential issuing of arrest warrants for crimes committed in Gaza, the context was clear," it noted.

"It is vital that the Government takes a clear stance against any attempts to intimidate an independent and impartial international court."

Karim Khan, the ICC's prosecutor, applied for arrest warrants on Monday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and three leaders of the Palestinian group, Hamas, for “war crimes and crimes against humanity” committed in Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

More than 35,600 Palestinians have been killed, the vast majority being women and children, and nearly 79,900 others injured since October following an attack by Hamas.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to ensure that its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.