The British government faces escalating scrutiny over its handling of allegations that former Foreign Secretary David Cameron threatened to withdraw funding from the International Criminal Court should it pursue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders. New evidence reveals contradictory information regarding the participants of the crucial April 2024 phone call between Cameron and ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) initially claimed Cameron was the sole participant in the discussion with Khan. However, multiple sources, including former staff from the prosecutor’s office, confirm that Baroness Liz Sugg, Cameron’s special assistant, also participated in the conversation. This discrepancy has raised serious questions about the government’s transparency regarding the sensitive diplomatic exchange.
Despite mounting political pressure from across party lines, both the previous Conservative administration and current Labour government have maintained silence on the allegations. The FCDO has repeatedly declined to comment, referring inquiries to Cameron himself, who has not responded to requests for clarification.
According to informed sources, during the April 2024 call made while Khan was visiting Venezuela, Cameron allegedly warned that the UK would “defund the court and withdraw from the Rome Statute” if the ICC proceeded with warrants for Israeli officials. While a source close to Cameron characterized the conversation as “robust” rather than threatening, the incident has drawn condemnation from international law experts who suggest such behavior could constitute a criminal offense under Article 70 of the Rome Statute.
The controversy has intensified with the recent approval of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders in November 2024. Cross-party politicians, including Labour MPs and former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, are demanding full transparency, including release of all correspondence related to the call and an independent investigation into the allegations of judicial interference.