The Attorney General of the United Kingdom and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) have rejected requests by pro-Palestine groups to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his visit to London.
The requests were submitted by several pro-Palestinian groups, including the Hind Rajab Foundation and Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA).
The organisations claimed that Herzog is “complicit in war crimes,” and presented “evidence” such as public statements “erasing” protection for civilians, “his denial of starvation in Gaza despite overwhelming UN documentation,” as well as his visits to military sites where his presence coincided with or directly preceded “devastating military campaigns.”
However, according to FOA, on 10 September both the DPP Stephen Parkinson and the Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer refused the application on the grounds there was “not sufficient evidence.”
FOA has responded saying it was now lodging a claim in the High Court for judicial review to challenge the decision.
“How can the Director of Public Prosecution say there is not sufficient evidence? A simple Google search brings up past statements by Mr Herzog that show he is responsible for supporting genocide,” said Dr Ismail Patel, Chair of Friends of Al-Aqsa.
“While this decision is deeply disappointing, our resolve to champion justice will not waver, we must challenge structures that protect war criminals. We will now appeal to the courts for a Judicial Review to bring potential war criminal to account.”
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News of Herzog’s visit to Britain has sparked widespread anger since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wanted for alleged war crimes by the International Criminal Court and Herzog himself has backed Israel’s military operations in Gaza and used alarming language amid the ongoing genocide.
Israel has killed more than 64,500 Palestinians in a brutal offensive in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, laying waste to most of its infrastructure.
Most of those slain in the war are women and children. Also many journalists, UN staff and aid workers have been killed too.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
