Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for genocide in Gaza and is not welcome in the city.
Speaking to Channel 4 News, Khan said, “I do believe a genocide is being committed in Gaza. I think Netanyahu is responsible. And as a perpetrator of genocide, I think he’s broken the law. And I think justice needs to happen, and that means him being brought to book.”
When asked if he would press Prime Minister Andy Burnham to enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu if the Israeli leader attempts to visit the United Kingdom, Khan stated, “If there is any evidence of him coming to London, I’ll be lobbying the prime minister to make sure the law is enforced.”
Asked whether the Israeli premier is permitted in the capital, Khan remarked, “People who commit genocide are not welcome in London.”
The Mayor of London acknowledged that while his official powers differ from municipal leaders in other countries, he would press the UK central government to fulfill its duties. The UK is state party to the Rome Statute, meaning the country faces a legal obligation to enforce ICC warrants and surrender wanted individuals to the court.
Khan’s remarks follow similar statements from Mayor of New York City (NYC) Zohran Mamdani.
In a video address, Mamdani urged the United States (US) federal government to execute the ICC warrant when the Israeli Prime Minister travels to New York for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
Mamdani stated, “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.” He added, “He is responsible for the killing of more than 73,000 people, for the maiming of tens of thousands of children,” while pointing to the deaths of aid workers and journalists.
Recognizing the limitations of municipal power, Mamdani said, “It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant.”
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to genocide in Gaza since October 2023.
The decision marked the first time in the 24-year existence of the tribunal that it issued warrants for senior officials allied with Western nations.
Neither the US nor Israel signed the Rome Statute, whereas the UK remains bound by treaty obligations.
