Britain Backs Israel Amid Hague Arrest Warrants: 'No Place to Compare Israel to Terrorists'
Further support for Israel? While most European countries have announced that they will comply with the International Criminal Court's ruling in The Hague, a spokesperson for the British Prime Minister's office addressed the decision to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant this evening (Thursday) – without committing to respecting the ruling or enforcing the warrants if Netanyahu or Galant were to enter the country.
"We respect the independence of the International Court, but it is clear to the British government that Israel has the right to defend itself, in accordance with international law," the spokesperson said. "Morally, there is no place to compare Israel, a democratic state, with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which are terrorist organizations."
He further added, "We are currently focused on the effort to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which will put an end to the shocking violence in the region."