Sadiq Khan says Netanyahu perpetrating genocide and not welcome in London

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said that Benjamin Netanyahu is the perpetrator of genocide in Gaza, and that he would lobby the UK government to arrest the Israeli premier if he ever visited.

Earlier this week, Zohran Mamdani, New York’s mayor, said that Netanyahu was a war criminal and that the federal US government should arrest him on behalf of the International Criminal Court during a planned trip to America later this year.

The London mayor was asked on Thursday by Channel 4 News if he would “follow suit”.

“Well, I have different powers to the mayor of New York,” Khan said. “But I do believe a genocide is being committed in Gaza. I think Netanyahu is responsible.”

He added: “And as a perpetrator of genocide, I think he’s broken the law. And I think justice needs to happen, and that means him being brought to book.”

Khan was asked if that meant he would lobby the UK government, led by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, to enforce the ICC’s arrest warrant.

“Well the good news is, and this is very good news, Netanyahu is not coming to London. Because if he did, he would feel the full weight of public opinion if he came.

“People who commit genocide are not welcome in London.”

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 24, 2026

In an interview with Channel 4 News, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he would lobby the UK prime minister to enforce the ICC arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit London. pic.twitter.com/hi6mf0ubLU

“If there is any evidence of him coming to London, I’ll be lobbying the prime minister to make sure the law is enforced.”

When finally asked if Netanyahu was welcome in London, Khan concluded: “People who commit genocide are not welcome in London.”

Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, were issued arrest warrants in November 2024 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed in Gaza since October 2023.

'A war criminal'

It was the first instance in the court's 24-year history in which it issued arrest warrants for western-allied senior officials.

Mamdani said in a video address on Tuesday that he did not have the authority to carry out the arrest warrant but would urge the government to do so.

"Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people," Mamdani said in the two-minute clip that has garnered nearly 100 million views.

"He is responsible for the killing of more than 73,000 people, for the maiming of tens of thousands of children," Mamdani said, before adding that the Israeli premier, who has attacked six countries since 2023, was responsible for the killing of aid workers and journalists.

"It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant," he added.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly.

All 125 state parties to the Rome Statute, including all EU members, are under a legal obligation to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant and surrender them to the court.

However, the court has no enforcement powers, and a trial cannot commence in absentia.

The US and Israel are not signatories to the Rome Statute.

The UK is a signatory and would be expected under its obligations to surrender Netanyahu to the court.