Sadiq Khan has said Benjamin Netanyahu must be brought to justice for being a perpetrator of genocide in Gaza.
Speaking to Channel 4 News, the London mayor said Netanyahu would not be welcome in the city and he would lobby Andy Burnham to ‘make sure the law is enforced’ if the Israeli prime minister ever did visit London.
His comments come after New York mayor Zohran Mamdani called on the US government to enforce the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Netanyahu when he visits New York City later this year.
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When asked if he would lobby Burnham to arrest Netanyahu to enforce the arrest warrant against Netanyahu, Khan said: “I do believe a genocide is being committed in Gaza. I think Netanyahu is responsible and as a perpetrator of genocide I think he’s broken the law.
“Justice needs to happen and that means him being brought to book.”
After he was asked again if that meant he would lobby the government over arresting Netanyahu, Khan said there are no plans for the Israeli leader to visit London, which he described as “very good news.”
Sir Sadiq said Netanyahu would “feel the full weight of public opinion” if he did visit the capital.
Khan effectively then confirmed he would lobby the government to arrest Netanyahu should he visit the UK, saying: “If there is any evidence of him coming to London, I’ll be lobbying the prime minister to make sure the law is enforced.”
“People who commit genocide are not welcome in London,” he added.
In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, the former Minister of Defense of Israel, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The charges included murde, persecution and using starvation as a method of warfare, along with other inhuman acts in Gaza.
As a member of the ICC, the UK would be required to arrest Netanyahu should he enter British territory.