The Metropolitan Police’s counter terrorism division has appointed a senior specialist prosecutor to “urgently” review an application for an arrest warrant against Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Middle East Eye can reveal.
MEE reported on Tuesday that Herzog, currently in London, is set to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Number 10 on Wednesday evening.
On Tuesday morning pro-Palestine campaign group Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA) instructed a legal team to apply for an arrest warrant to be issued for Herzog on “charges of aiding, abetting or procuring direct and indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian objects”.
The Met responded to FOA that afternoon in an email seen by MEE.
In the email, officers confirmed that “the Counter Terrorism Division received the papers relating to your request in respect of Mr Herzog.
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“This division has responsibility for the review and prosecution of core international crimes and a Senior Specialist Prosecutor has been asked to urgently review the submission.”
The Met did not respond to MEE’s request for comment at the time of writing.
‘Suspect imminently within jurisdiction’
Friends of Al-Aqsa had requested a decision by 10am on Wednesday, but the Met said “meeting this deadline will be challenging and we will provide a substantive response as soon as possible.”
The group’s lawyers responded in an email on Wednesday that “Mr Herzog is currently in the jurisdiction and is understood to be due to leave by 12 September.
‘There is now an opportunity to correct the failings and issue an arrest warrant to investigate Herzog’s incitement to attacks on Gaza’
– Ismail Patel, Friends of al-Aqsa
“Your guidance provides for urgent consideration where a suspect is imminently within the jurisdiction.”
The group added: “Whilst we appreciate all cases raise their own complex issues and that you will be working hard to provide a substantive response, this current window of opportunity is limited and enables accountability in a serious case in which consent is in the public interest.”
MEE understand’s that FOA’s application refers to remarks made by Herzog in October 2023 that all Palestinians in Gaza were “unequivocally” responsible for the 7 October Hamas attack.
“It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved,” he said in comments that South Africa submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during its genocide case against Israel.
FOA said that parts of statements Herzog made were “repeated by senior Israeli military command conducting a campaign of indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian objects in Gaza.”
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News of Herzog’s visit to Britain has sparked widespread outrage since the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is wanted for alleged war crimes by the International Criminal Court – and Herzog himself has backed Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters held a demonstration outside Downing Street on Tuesday evening, and more demonstrations are expected on Wednesday evening as Herzog meets Starmer.
Protesters also gathered outside a central London hotel on Tuesday where Herzog was reportedly staying.
FOA chair Ismail Patel said: “Britain has failed to defend and champion the rule of law. There is now an opportunity to correct the failings and issue an arrest warrant to investigate Herzog’s incitement to attacks on Gaza.
“We have submitted an application to compel UK law enforcement to arrest Isaac Herzog upon entry into the United Kingdom. Every official, no matter how senior, must be held accountable for attacks on civilians.
“There can be no immunity for such grave crimes.”
