The UK uses ‘special mission’ immunity to prevent Israel from facing war crimes justice

Former shadow justice secretary under Jeremy Corbyn, Richard Burgon, has obtained a list of all the foreign visitors granted so-called ‘special mission’ immunity. That’s since the Conservatives established the status in 2011. Crucially, it includes politician from Israel.

Israel politicians: being shielded by the UK government

The list names a number of Israeli politicians and soldiers accused of crimes against humanity. It includes current member of the war cabinet Benny Gantz.

Gantz visited the UK in March after the International Court of Justice found it “plausible” Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, Palestine.

The special status the Conservatives granted him seeks to block him from arrest. Indeed, as Declassified reports, the police have cited the diplomatic immunity status as the reason they did not make an arrest in a separate case.

The UK is party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that seeks to provide universal jurisdiction for prosecuting war crimes including genocide and aggression.

There are reports the ICC is considering arrest warrants for Israeli authority figures.

International crimes members of the Israeli war cabinet have presided over since 7 October include:

• Targeting civilian infrastructure including destroying 26 out of 35 hospitals
• Targeting journalists and media workers, killing 97
• Imposing collective punishment on Palestinians through cutting off water and electricity
• Restricting food supplies, causing the starvation of civilians

The Conservatives allocated diplomatic immunity to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he met David Cameron in 2015. Netanyahu has been Israel’s prime minister for a total of over sixteen years.

As well as the crimes since 7 October, Netanyahu oversaw military offences such as Operation Protective Edge in 2014. During this conflict, Israelis targeted Palestinian family homes and killed over 500 children.

Defending war criminals

Other Israelis the UK has granted special immunity status include Doron Almog in 2013, a retired major general.

Palestinians held Almog responsible for the murder of Gazan citizens including dropping a one tonne bomb on Gaza City in 2002.

The Conservatives also allocated immunity to Israeli Shaul Mofaz in 2016. Mofaz has held roles including IDF chief of staff and defence minister.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights sought his arrest when he was in the UK, sending the police evidence of his war crimes that include torture and collective punishment.

But instead of facing arrest, the British government allowed Mofaz to speak in parliament.

The UK could be a force for justice in the world. But its blocking of the arrest of Israelis and suspects from other countries means we are literally the opposite.

Featured image via The Independent – YouTube