The UN has added Israel to its blacklist of state actors committing sexual violence in conflict. The decision, confirmed overnight, places the Israeli Defence Forces alongside notorious regimes in the annual 'List of Shame'. Britain's quiet backing of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has infuriated Downing Street's usual allies in Tel Aviv.
Whitehall sources tell me this is not about morality. It's about foreign policy chess. The UK government, under pressure from Labour backbenchers and human rights groups, calculated that opposing the ICC over Gaza would cost more at home than it would gain abroad. The move is a victory for the Foreign Office's 'rules-based order' faction, who see the ICC as vital for international law enforcement.
But the real story is the split in cabinet. The Prime Minister is caught between his instincts to stand with Israel and the Chancellor's warnings about economic fallout from Arab states. One senior Tory told me: "This isn't about justice. It's about keeping the trade deals with Saudi and UAE alive."
The blacklist, which includes the Taliban and ISIS, now sits uncomfortably next to a democratic ally. The UN report, compiled by the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, cites multiple incidents during the recent Gaza war. Israeli officials dismiss it as politically motivated. A diplomat in the room said: "The evidence is damning. The UN doesn't do this lightly."
Meanwhile, the ICC is moving closer to issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. Britain's quiet support for the court's jurisdiction over Gaza has not gone unnoticed. Legal experts say this creates a dangerous precedent. "If we accept the ICC can pursue allies, what stops it going after our own troops in Iraq?" a former attorney general asked me.
Labour is jubilant. Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy has already called for a full inquiry. But the real game is on the backbenches. A rebellion is brewing. Fifty Tory MPs, many from the pro-Israel 'Friends of Israel' group, have tabled an amendment to condemn the UN list. The whips are panicking. Numbers suggest they could lose.
The timing is awful for the PM. Inflation is falling, but his poll ratings are stuck at 28%. A foreign policy crisis is the last thing he needs. But he can't pivot. The Israeli ambassador is furious. The US is watching with cold eyes. And inside the cabinet, knives are being sharpened.
One thing is clear: this story will run and run. The blacklist has exposed deep divisions in British politics. And the ICC is only getting started. Watch the Hague next week. They are plotting their next move.
