Islamabad :The State of Palestine is following with great concern the letter by the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to the “Conservative Friends of Israel” objecting to the International Criminal Court’s independent investigation into the Situation in the State of Palestine. The letter of UK Prime Minister politicizes an independent investigation of the Court, risks the integrity and impartiality of the British nationals serving at the highest positions in the Court, and undermines the pursuit of international justice and the Court’s mandate.
As a State Party to the Rome Statute, the United Kingdom is obligated to respect and safeguard the judicial and prosecutorial independence of the Court, including the ongoing investigation into Israeli crimes in the State of Palestine. In this regard, the State of Palestine finds it difficult to reconcile the misplaced promises made by the Prime Minister in the statement to “reform” or “strengthen” the Court with his Government’s attempts to undermine and intervene the Court’s work. In fact, this letter reveals the Prime Minister’s outright contempt for the Court, the international order, rules, principles, and values.
The State of Palestine is equally concerned with the Prime Minister’s reference to the British nationals serving at the Court as a political win for the United Kingdom and its allies. This unprecedented political reference is a grave threat to the independence and impartiality of the Court and intended to divert the Court from investigating British nationals and its allies. The State of Palestine recalls that Judges and the Prosecutor are independent and must be able to pursue justice and fulfill their mandate in accordance with the Rome Statute without undue pressure from States.
Attempts to undermine Palestinian statehood or the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination are objectionable remaining vestiges of colonialism. The State of Palestine is a legal and a political fact that can neither be ignored nor denied any longer. This is particularly true when it comes to the United Kingdom and its historical responsibility towards the Question of Palestine and the Palestinian people. Governments that remain in denial on this issue are advised to move over to right side of history.