UK Investigates Israelis for 'War Crimes'

British law enforcement is investigating Israel for committing alleged war crimes in Gaza.

London's Metropolitan Police have defended their investigation of alleged war crimes in the Israel-Hamas war, saying they're obliged to by an international agreement, the Independent reported.

Signs written in Arabic and English have been posted at major British airports appealing for information.

"If you have been in Israel/Palestinian Territories and have witnessed or been a victim of terrorism, war crimes or crimes against humanity, then you can report this to the UK police," the posters say.

However, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and others have blasted Scotland Yard's decision to seek information from anyone returning from Israel or Gaza.

Johnson told The Telegraph he fears Scotland Yard's actions mark a "worrying politicization of the Met Police."

"When I was mayor of London I made it clear that we would not import foreign wars or disputes onto the streets of London," Johnson said. "The Met would be better off fighting knife crime in the capital."

A former senior Cabinet minister agreed with Johnson.

"This begs the question of why the Met Police have got involved," the official told The Telegraph. "They have a lot of work to do domestically, while what's happening in Israel and Gaza is a grey area right now."

Police say the posters were put up to support an ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the Israel-Hamas war.

Scotland Yard said its War Crimes Team is "obliged to support any investigations opened by the ICC that could involve British subjects," under the terms of the 1998 Rome Statute, the Independent reported.

"In order to meet our obligations to support the ongoing ICC investigation linked to Israel and Palestine, and due to the fact we were aware that relatively large numbers of people — including many British nationals — were returning on flights to the U.K. from the region, posters signposting how people could contact the War Crimes Team have been displayed at certain airports to make any potential witnesses or victims aware of how they can get in touch," a Met Police spokesperson said.

The Associated Press last month reported that a British Palestinian surgeon who spent weeks in the Gaza Strip during the war as part of a Doctors Without Borders medical team said he has given testimony to a British war crimes investigation unit.

Ghassan Abu Sitta, a plastic surgeon, told AP that when he returned to the U.K., he was asked by the war crimes unit at the Metropolitan Police to give evidence in a possible war crimes investigation, and did so.