Will Benjamin Netanyahu ever be arrested?

Read time: 3 mins

In brief…

• There has been no action against Benjamin Netanyahu, despite being wanted by the ICC on war crime charges – largely because he has not entered any country likely to arrest him.
• The News Agents believe he will never visit member states of the Rome Statute, such as the UK, ever again.
• They say his actions likely bring a “sense of shame” to the people of Israel.

What’s the story?

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2024, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Nine months later, he remains a free man, the leader of a country, and is planning to increase military action in Gaza, where his crimes may have been committed.

But since the ICC arrest warrant, the only place outside of Israel that Netanyahu has visited is America, where he met for a friendly meeting with Donald Trump in the White House.

That's because the US isn't part of the Rome Statute, which came into force in 2002 to investigate international crimes, such as genocide and war crimes, so he is free to visit there without fear of arrest.

Countries such as the UK, which are part of the Rome Statute, are legally obliged to arrest Netanyahu if he enters, which Keir Starmer's government has suggested it will do.

But for now, it seems like Netanyahu is staying put, and staying safe, in Israel.

Is Benjamin Netanyahu grounded forever?

Both Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall believe Netanyahu will never again visit the UK – despite having previously made regular trips to this country.

"It's hard to see that Netanyahu is going to fly anywhere he's got any risk of being arrested," says Jon.

"I think that the legacy of Netanyahu is pretty horrific for what he has done in a bid to keep himself in power and away from corruption charges."

Many believe Netanyahu is prolonging the war in Gaza in order to cling to power in Israel, as well as delay the progress in a long-running corruption trial against him.

"He was a regular visitor to this country," Jon adds.

"There is a significant Jewish population in London, but he's not going to London. He's not going to Paris. He's not going to any of these countries."

Lewis Goodall says it would have been “unimaginable” a few years ago to have an Israeli Prime Minister essentially “forbidden” from visiting the UK.

"If he ever comes to the UK, then the government at that time would, according to the treaty, be obliged to start the processes of his arrest," Lewis says.

"But I think that is one of the many reasons why Netanyahu will never come to the UK or anywhere else other than the United States and Israel again, possibly for the rest of his life."

'A sense of shame' for Israel?

Following the Hamas attack on Israel of October 3 2023, which killed an estimated 1,500 people, there was international support for its people.

But, as its war against Hamas in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of around 60,000 people, and leaving the country now on the brink of famine due to restriction of aid, there has been a notable shift from the international community.

Both France and the UK are set to join many other members of the United Nations in recognising Palestine as a state from September this year.

Keir Starmer has today (8 August) condemned Netanyahu's plan to take control of all of Gaza with a new strongly-worded letter – despite the UK continuing to sell weapons to Israel.

"I bet among Israelis, they will hate the idea that they are becoming a pariah state. I do think there is a pressure building," says Jon.

"I bet it hurts. I bet it is a source of shame."

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