Scottish Labour MSPs back Humza Yousaf's motion on ICC arrest warrant

A NUMBER of Scottish Labour MSPs have backed Humza Yousaf’s Holyrood motion regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) requesting an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu – along with his defence minister Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders – is accused of perpetrating war crimes in Gaza by ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan.

The former first minister has submitted a motion to the Scottish Parliament calling on MSPs to recognise the “seriousness” of the alleged crimes and note that the ICC must be allowed to carry out its work “unimpeded and without intimidation or threat of sanction”.

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The motion – which also states that “no one is above the law” and expresses concern at the UK Government opposing the actions of the ICC – has been backed by several Scottish Labour MSPs.

Foysol Choudhury, Monica Lennon, Richard Leonard, Paul Sweeney, and Alex Rowley have all put their name to it.

It comes despite Labour leader Keir Starmer remaining silent on the issue.

Starmer has still not released a statement on the ICC requests for arrest warrants, more than two days after the news first broke.

Scottish Labour have been approached for comment.

Humza Yousaf’s full motion reads:

“That the Parliament notes what it sees as the significant development from International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Khan KC, to apply for arrest warrants against leaders of the Israeli government and leaders of Hamas; recognises what it considers to be the seriousness of the reported alleged crimes, including murder, rape, starvation and torture; believes that the ICC must be allowed to carry out its work unimpeded and without intimidation or threat of sanction; further believes that there must be equal application of the law, and that no one is above the law, regardless of whether they are state or non-state actors; expresses its concern at the UK Government opposing the actions of the ICC; demands that arms sales to Israel are immediately halted by the UK Government, and continues to call for all hostages to be released, and for an immediate ceasefire to be agreed to.”