The UK has rejected multiple calls to arrest Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his visit to London, dismissing a criminal complaint filed by pro-Palestinian organisations over war crimes in Gaza.
Earlier this week, three organisations - the Hind Rajab Foundation, the European Centre for Legal Assistance, and Stop the War - lodged a criminal complaint over Herzog's alleged involvement in military operations against Palestinians in the besieged enclave.
They warned about his public remarks, including his previous claim that there were "no innocent civilians" in Gaza, his denial of famine in the devastated territory, and visits to Israeli military bases, as evidence of violations of the Geneva Conventions.
Despite the evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dismissed the request, claiming the evidence was “insufficient” to prosecute Herzog, and so police took no steps to arrest the visiting president.
In response, campaigners called the CPS's decision a "legal and moral failure" that reinforced a culture of impunity.
"It is quite astonishing that Herzog has been welcomed at the highest level of government in Downing Street and that he has not been arrested for war crimes," Lindsey German, the Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, said.
"Millions of people in Britain are horrified at the genocidal actions of the Israeli government. We demand that the police and government act in accordance with international law. We also question delays over this while arrests of protesters have become a regular occurrence," German added.
The UK’s Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer and Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson rejected a parallel application for Herzog’s arrest filed by Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA).
On Thursday, FOA announced it was seeking a judicial review in the High Court, arguing the CPS failed to obtain "all relevant information available" before refusing the request.
The FOA’s application accused Herzog of "aiding, abetting or procuring direct and indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian objects", also pointing to comments he made in October 2023 when he declared that all Palestinians in Gaza were "unequivocally responsible" for the 7 October attack on Israel.
The group said those remarks were later echoed by Israeli commanders directing the military campaign in Gaza. FOA chair Ismail Patel said the CPS had ignored credible evidence.
On Friday, the Attorney General admitted in court that part of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) letter to FOA was false, confirming the public had been misled over whether Herzog enjoyed immunity from prosecution.
The DPP’s letter to FOA, which had sought an arrest warrant for Herzog on charges of aiding and abetting war crimes in Gaza, stated that the attorney general had confirmed Herzog’s immunity. However, in proceedings before the High Court, the Attorney General flatly denied ever giving such confirmation.
Mr Justice Chamberlain expressed disappointment that neither the DPP nor the Attorney General corrected the misleading statement before the hearing. Rights groups said the admission shows a serious breach of public trust and raises questions over transparency at the heart of the UK’s justice system.
Despite the revelation, the High Court refused to allow a judicial review into the decision not to pursue an arrest warrant for Herzog. Campaigners condemned the ruling as leaving the attorney general beyond accountability, warning it sets a dangerous precedent where officials can block prosecutions of alleged war criminals without scrutiny.
Herzog arrived in London on Tuesday and met Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street the following evening.
According to Israeli officials, he warned Starmer that recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly would "reward terrorism" and undermine hostage negotiations.
He also said sanctions against Israel were "unacceptable between countries with so much in common".
Speaking later at Chatham House, Herzog admitted the Downing Street meeting was tense, saying he both "argued with" and found points of agreement with Starmer.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was also questioned about the visit by Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
In a video shared by the UK Muslim news website 5 Pillars, Khan appeared to defend Herzog's visit on the grounds that he was Israel's "ceremonial" head of state with no real political power, while refusing to define Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide, saying they were only a "plausible" genocide.
Dyab Abou Jahjah, Chairman of the Hind Rajab Foundation: "History will not absolve the British authorities for failing to arrest Isaac Herzog.
"In doing so, the police have abandoned the Palestinian victims of genocide, organised starvation, and destruction in Gaza, and have placed themselves on the side of impunity rather than justice."