British MPs react to 'shocking' MEE report of Cameron threatening ICC over Israel probe
Ten British parliamentarians have responded to Middle East Eye's revelation on Monday that the former UK foreign secretary privately threatened to defund and withdraw from the International Criminal Court if it issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.
David Cameron, then foreign secretary in Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government, made the threat in April 2024 in a heated phone call with Karim Khan, the British chief prosecutor of the court.
Asked about Cameron's threat, Emily Thornberry, a senior Labour MP and the chair of parliament's foreign affairs select committee, told MEE: "I've always believed that when making difficult decisions, international law must always be our guide."
Labour MP Naz Shah called the news "shocking" and said she would be "raising this matter directly" with the Foreign Office.
"No rules-based system can function with legitimacy if it does not apply the rules equally," she told MEE.
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Cameron told Khan over the phone on 23 April 2024 that the UK would “defund the court and withdraw from the Rome Statute” if the ICC issued warrants for Israeli leaders.
Khan replied that “if this were to occur then we would have to accept that the rules-based system would be dead”.
This week MEE revealed details of the call based on information from a number of sources – including former staff in Khan’s office familiar with the conversation and who have seen the minutes of the meeting.
Cameron, a former British prime minister who was appointed foreign secretary by Sunak in November 2023, told Khan that applying for warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant would be “like dropping a hydrogen bomb”.
He said Khan was “on the brink of making a huge mistake" and that "the world is not ready for this".
According to MEE’s sources, the foreign secretary spoke aggressively and repeatedly shouted over Khan, who had to ask to be able to complete his points.
Approached by MEE for a response to the exchange with Cameron, Karim Khan said: “I have no comment to make at this time.”
The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office declined to comment.
Cameron, who currently sits as a Conservative peer in the House of Lords, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
'Cameron must be investigated'
Labour MP Kim Johnson told MEE: "This revelation is a damning indictment of the previous Conservative government’s disregard for international law."
She added: "This Labour government must urgently and unequivocally distance itself from this position.
"It must reaffirm its commitment to the ICC and uphold its rulings, including the arrest warrants that the previous foreign secretary sought to undermine."
Labour MP Zarah Sultana said on social media platform X that "David Cameron — and every UK minister complicit in arming and enabling Israel’s genocide in Gaza - must be investigated for war crimes."
David Cameron — and every UK minister complicit in arming and enabling Israel’s genocide in Gaza — must be investigated for war crimes. https://t.co/YYcsmFg1BN
— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) June 9, 2025
Less than a month after the call with Cameron, Khan announced that he was seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his then-defence minister, Yoav Gallant, as well as for Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Deif.
Independent MP Ayoub Khan called for a parliamentary investigation into MEE's report.
He said that "political influence must never be allowed to shape judicial outcomes. The parliamentary Code of Conduct is unequivocal on this point, and rightly so."
He added: "If these allegations are accurate, they represent not just a breach of that code but a breach of public trust and the moral authority of Britain's commitment to international law.
"I urge the relevant parliamentary standards committees to investigate this matter with the seriousness it deserves."
Former Labour leader and independent MP Jeremy Corbyn told MEE that "not one of the former ministers involved in the last Conservative government has so far supported our call for an inquiry into the UK's complicity in the Gaza genocide.
"This shocking revelation could explain why."
Zack Polanski, the deputy leader of the Green Party who is standing to be the next leader, added: "It's been clear for all to see that both the former and current government have stood with the oppressors, not the marginalised.
"That's why I support Jeremy Corbyn's call for an independent inquiry."
Concerning new allegations, which suggest the last foreign secretary tried to shield Israeli leaders from facing justice for war crimes.
— Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (@BellRibeiroAddy) June 9, 2025
We need an independent inquiry into the UK’s role in the Gaza genocide.https://t.co/JROBHyqtDo
Independent MP Iqbal Mohamed said: "If Lord Cameron did in fact issue such a threat, it would represent a grave lapse in judgement and a betrayal of our commitment to justice and international law.
"These allegations deserve urgent and transparent scrutiny in Parliament."
Independent MP Shockat Adam added that "it is outrageous for ministers to interfere in the workings of the international justice system - particularly as the UK is one of its main architects."
On 10 June 2024 the Conservative government filed an objection to Khan’s application to the ICC, arguing that the court did not have jurisdiction over Israeli nationals – a position the Israeli government has held for years.
The next month, Keir Starmer’s newly elected Labour government announced it would drop the objection.
The ICC issued the warrants that November.
Sanctioned by the US
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy said on social media platform X that the report about Cameron's threat was "concerning" and backed calls for an "independent inquiry into the UK's role in the Gaza genocide".
Scottish National Party MP Chris Law said on X: "Shocking that the UK Tory govt tried to undermine the International Criminal Court for investigating those responsible for war crimes in Gaza.
"However not seeing much better under Labour."
Shocking that the UK Tory govt tried to undermine the International Criminal Court for investigating those responsible for war crimes in Gaza. However not seeing much better under Labour #GazaGenocide https://t.co/Wd3nK9UkhV
— Chris Law MP (@ChrisLawSNP) June 9, 2025
As of February, Khan has been sanctioned by US President Donald Trump because of the arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu and Gallant.
The prosecutor has had his US visa revoked and his wife and children have been banned from travelling to the US. His bank accounts have been frozen in the UK.
The warrants for Israeli leaders are currently in the hands of two deputy prosecutors.
Last Thursday, the US imposed further sanctions on four ICC judges whom it accused of being involved in “illegitimate actions targeting the United States and Israel”.
Neither the US nor Israel are parties to the Rome Statute and have long rejected the authority of the court.
In a statement, the ICC said it deplored the sanctions against Khan and the four judges. It said it stood fully behind its personnel and would continue its work undeterred.
The court recently ordered that any further warrants issued in relation to its Palestine investigation cannot be publicised.
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