Sara Ibrahim


Between 1,166 and 1,417 Palestinians were killed, more that 400,000 Gazans were left without running water, tens of thousands of people homeless, while their homes were destroyed, amid the three-week Massacre in the Gaza strip during the winter of 2008-2009.


In April 2009 a UN mission was established headed by Judge Richard Goldstone and produced a report in September 2009, accusing the "Israeli" War Forces of crimes against humanity, and counselled bringing those responsible to justice.

On Monday, a British court issued an unprecedented arrest warrant for "Israel's" former foreign minister Tzipi Livni over crimes committed in Gaza this year.

Livni had been due to address a meeting in London on Sunday but cancelled her attendance as soon as she was aware of the warrant against her, although Livni's office denied that, claiming that her appearance at the London event was cancelled two weeks ago due to a scheduling conflict.


The warrant was rescinded once it was discovered that Livni wasn't in the country.

The Westminster Magistrate's Court issued the warrant at the request of pro-Palestinian activists, knowing that Livni, head of the opposition Kadima party, played a key role in decisions made before and during the three-week Gaza war.

Livni Responded to the warrant saying: "I have no problem with the fact that the world wants to judge "Israel", yet I won't accept any accusations that compared "Israel" soldiers to terrorists."

Livni's office added that the opposition leader was proud of all the decisions she made as foreign minister during the Gaza war, and that she achieved her goal of bringing security to "Israel" and protecting its citizens.


The "Israeli" Foreign Ministry called on British government to fulfill its promises and prevent an abuse to the British legal system against "Israel", warning that the lack of firm actions aimed at repairing the situation will harm the relations between both of the countries.

The British Foreign Office issued a statement on Monday, "The UK is determined to do all it can to promote peace in the Middle East and to be a strategic partner of "Israel", yet "Israel's" leaders need to be able to come to the UK for talks with the British government." it said, adding that the UK is looking urgently at the implications of this case.

This has happened before in 2004 against "Israel's" then war minister, Shaul Mofaz, yet Mofaz was granted immunity from international arrest and trial, of where such protection was given to foreign ministers or premiers, according to the British court.

As well as in 2005, Doron Almog a retired "Israeli" general, returned to "Israel" without leaving the plane that had landed him in London after learning an arrest warrant had been issued against him.

Pro- Palestinian activists in September, sought to have War Minister Ehud Barak arrested over his role in Gaza, yet the request was denied on the grounds of diplomatic immunity.

An identical statement by another firm of London solicitors was issued to arrest visiting "Israeli" officers or military personnel.