On the Secret Israeli-British Foreign Ministers Meeting in London

Britain violates international law while London police target activists seeking to uphold it

On Tuesday 15 April 2025, Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with his British counterpart David Lammy in London. The visit came just two weeks after two British politicians were denied entry to the occupied West Bank and subsequently deported by Israel, accused of planning to “spread hate speech.” Responding to Israel’s decision at that time, Lammy called it “unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning.”

Sa’ar has served in the Israeli army’s Golani Brigade and was appointed as foreign minister in November 2024. When news of his arrival in London got out, an application for his arrest was submitted by pro-Palestinian legal groups, the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), the Hind Rajab Foundation, the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) and medical doctors who have worked in Gaza during Israel’s genocide.

The submission to British Attorney General Lord Hermer and Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson sought the Israeli minister’s arrest for his role in war crimes in Gaza, exposing his role in the siege and destruction of Gaza’s hospitals, including attacks on Kamal Adwan Hospital and the subsequent kidnapping and torture of its director Dr Hussam Abu Safiyeh, who was detained in December under administrative detention and will remain languishing in horrific conditions in Israeli prisons until at least September, according to his lawyer. Sa’ar is also implicated in the mass displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the blocking of humanitarian aid.

An arrest warrant was prepared by London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court and a complaint was made to the Metropolitan Police.

Following the application for arrest, Sa’ar planned to scuttle back to Israel, until the attorney general rejected the request on grounds of immunity, a decision personally communicated to Sa’ar by Lammy.

After the application for his arrest was blocked, Sa’ar made his visit to London public on social media, sharing details of meetings with Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel and President of The Board of Deputies of British Jews Phil Rosenberg.

British mainstream media failed to report on Sa’ar’s visit, although government-mouthpiece the BBC reported the meeting between him and Rosenberg, initially claiming it took place in Israel and later editing this lie away following questions posed by journalists at The National. The Guardian was the only other media site that reported the visit.

GLAN denounced the attorney general’s decision to reject their application, citing the State Immunity Act 1978 - which only affords immunity to heads of state, their families and private servants - and have requested an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Unit.

On Saturday, DeclassifiedUK reported Sa’ar would be flying out of Heathrow Airport on Sunday afternoon and included details of his flight number, terminal and departure gate, while warning not to approach him as he would “likely have armed guards,” accompanying him.

London-based activists decided to challenge the foreign minister at the airport to “send a sign to Israeli officials that even though the Labour Party is complicit with the genocide…the British public aren’t and we will exercise our right to engage in citizens’ arrests for Israeli ministers if they come to the U.K.”

At the airport, activists were confronted by armed police with dog units who stopped what they called “suspicious” activists who were sporting Palestinian symbols such as the keffiyeh and maps of Palestine on their clothing.

One activist who was handcuffed, searched and briefly detained, was informed by police that they were expecting protesters after reports of Sa’ar’s departure was made public. Police initially claimed the activist was in breach of airport bylaws and later, in violation of Section 43 of the Terrorism Act.

Police threatened activists with arrest and seizure of their symbolic clothing, but ended up escorting and ejecting them out of the airport with orders to not return for at least 24 hours. Footage of that can be seen here.

(Police confronting activists at Heathrow Airport)

On Sunday, a delegation of 27 French lawmakers scheduled to travel to Jerusalem had their visas revoked by Israel’s Interior Ministry using a law that bans visitors accused of acting against the interests of Israel. The trip, organised by the French consulate in Jerusalem, was to “promote peace.”

Israel’s ban follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement to recognise a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu called “a huge reward for terrorism.” Lawmakers amongst the delegation have accused Israel of “collective punishment” and demanded Macron intervene.

Warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) have previously been issued for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. But earlier this month, after a state visit by Netanyahu to Hungary, President Viktor Orbán refused to arrest the Israeli leader and withdrew his state from the ICC. The ICC has since opened non-compliance proceedings into Hungary’s failure to issue the arrest.

It is unclear at this time if the court will issue similar proceedings against Britain following the Israeli foreign minister’s visit.

As the British government shields Israeli war criminals, it is left to independent legal organisations and activists to attempt to uphold the law.

In a statement, GLAN noted:

This was an opportunity for the UK government to pivot from arresting those who speak out against genocide to holding accountable those responsible for genocide, as required under UK and international law. From weapons exports to spy plane flights to trade and diplomatic support, the UK government has failed at every step to live up to its legal obligations under international and domestic law to act to prevent the horrifying atrocities in Gaza.