British Palestine campaigners request war crimes investigation into Israeli president

Palestine campaigners have requested that police investigate Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his visit to the UK next week over his liability for war crimes committed in Gaza.

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) said it contacted the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, also known as SO15, saying Herzog could bear criminal liability for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and actions that constitute plausible genocide.

ICJP argued that diplomatic immunity would not preclude the Metropolitan Police from interviewing him in compliance with the UK’s international and domestic obligations.

“This action represents a significant escalation in the global legal effort to hold senior Israeli officials accountable for war crimes and grave breaches of international law," said Jonathan Purcell, ICJP’s senior public affairs and communications officer.

"The rule of law applies to all, regardless of office or nationality. If political leaders refuse to subject themselves to the legal process, it is their own soldiers who will be left exposed facing justice alone, without immunity or protection. There will be no safe haven for suspected war criminals. International law demands accountability, and we are determined to deliver it.”

The latest, unannounced visit is likely to spark outrage since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wanted for alleged war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Though he is not wanted by the ICC, Herzog has nevertheless backed Israel's military operations in Gaza. In October 2023, he said all Palestinians in Gaza were "unequivocally" responsible for the 7 October Hamas attack, which killed around 1,200 Israelis.

"It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved," he said in remarks that are widely accused of being genocidal in tone. 

Herzog’s reported trip is the latest in a series of visits by senior Israeli officials to the UK over the last two years of Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza.

On 25 November 2024, Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi flew to Britain on a secret trip and met with Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer. The Labour government granted Halevi special mission immunity for the visit.

In mid-April, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar made a similarly clandestine trip to the UK for talks with the foreign secretary.

That visit came days after Israeli authorities detained and deported Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang.

The head of the Israeli Air Force, Major-General Tomer Bar, also recently met senior British defence officials on a visit to the UK.