LONDON — An arrest warrant is being urgently pursued in the UK for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, following a secret meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London on Tuesday.
Middle East Eye (MEE) reported that Saar was on a private visit to the UK this week and met with Lammy under confidential circumstances. The clandestine nature of the meeting, especially amid ongoing allegations of human rights violations by the Israeli government, has drawn harsh criticism from British opposition MPs and activists.
UK-based legal advocacy groups, the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and the Hind Rajab Foundation, have formally submitted a request to the UK Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions for consent to apply for an arrest warrant against Saar. The request accuses Saar of aiding and abetting torture and serious breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza.
According to the submission, Saar is criminally responsible for the Israeli military’s attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital in late 2023, during which the hospital’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, was allegedly detained and tortured. The Israeli Foreign Ministry had publicly supported the siege at the time.
Dyab Abou Jahjah, founder of the Hind Rajab Foundation, condemned Saar’s presence in the UK:
“Gideon Saar cannot walk freely in London while Palestinian civilians lie buried under rubble.”
Saar has also publicly justified Israel’s blockade of Gaza, asserting without evidence that humanitarian aid supports Hamas, a claim criticized internationally as collective punishment.
Gearoid O Cuinn, GLAN’s director, emphasized that the legal move aims to hold officials accountable:
“UK officials are failing to abide by the law by offering handshakes instead of handcuffs.”
The groups have also filed a complaint with the London Metropolitan Police, further pushing for legal consequences.
Dr. Azra Zyada, a medical doctor who helped compile evidence from Gaza, stated:
“This is an opportunity to show that the rule of law matters.”
MEE has reached out to the UK Attorney General’s office for comment. As of now, no response has been reported.
