The UK government has recently come under scrutiny for providing diplomatic immunity to numerous foreign officials accused of serious violations of international law, a discovery made by Declassified.
Since 2013, more than 50 “special mission” certificates have been granted to military and political figures from countries such as Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Rwanda, and Iran by the Foreign Office.
An example of this is when Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz was given protection as recently as March, despite Israel facing an investigation for genocide in Gaza.
With the International Criminal Court potentially indicting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi, the issuance of “special mission” immunity allows foreign officials to visit the UK without fear of arrest.
However, this practice may conflict with Britain’s commitment to universal jurisdiction legislation, like the Rome Statute, which mandates the prosecution of the most serious crimes regardless of where they occurred.
While the UK government argues that this immunity aligns with customary international law, critics argue that it obstructs efforts to prosecute officials from allied states accused of severe violations.
To obtain the list of officials shielded from prosecution, Labour’s former shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon MP posed a question in parliament.
The Pinochet Precedent
The incident in 1998 involving Augusto Pinochet’s arrest in London for crimes against humanity served as a global “wake-up call to tyrants” concerning universal jurisdiction.
However, recent legislative changes have made it challenging to pursue universal jurisdiction cases in the UK, particularly regarding Israeli officials.
For example, former Foreign Secretary William Hague emphasized the need to ensure Israeli politicians could visit the country without fear, leading to the implementation of “special mission” immunity.
Several Israeli officials, including Benny Gantz, Avi Dichter, and Shaul Mofaz, have benefited from this immunity despite allegations of serious violations of international law.
Immunity for Israel
Key Israeli figures like Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, and Herzi Halevi have received diplomatic immunity, allowing them to evade prosecution during their visits to the UK.
Other Israeli officials accused of severe violations, such as Doron Almog and Amos Yadlin, have also been granted this special immunity.
The UK’s provision of diplomatic immunity to Israeli military chiefs has sparked controversy and raised concerns about justice and accountability.
Appeasing Egypt
Not limited to Israel, Egypt has seen the most common nationality benefiting from “special mission” immunity, with 35 certificates issued primarily to officials under General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The practice of providing immunity to Egyptian officials linked to human rights abuses has drawn criticism, highlighting the UK’s close relationship with Sisi’s regime amid ongoing repression.
Moreover, the UK’s decision to shield Egyptian officials like Mahmoud Hegazy has raised concerns about accountability for alleged atrocities committed under Sisi’s rule.
Green Light for Tyrants
Aside from Israeli and Egyptian officials, foreign figures from countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran have also been granted immunity, allowing them to visit the UK without fear of arrest.
Controversial figures like Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and Rwandan general James Kabarebe have benefited from this practice, despite allegations of serious human rights violations and war crimes.
As scrutiny over the issuance of “special mission” immunity grows, the UK government faces mounting pressure to ensure accountability and justice for individuals accused of international crimes.