London, Aguust 25 (RHC)-- A petition in the UK calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his planned September visit to Britain is gaining further momentum. The number of petitioners calling for Netanyahu’s arrest has now almost reached the 80,000 mark. The petition was launched earlier this month and was posted on the government's website.

Activists say under international law, Netanyahu must be arrested for war crimes against Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip last year. They want the British government to arrest Netanyahu upon his arrival in the UK for an official visit next month.

The British government says certain officials have legal immunity and cannot be arrested or detained. However, if the number of signatories reaches 100,000, a parliament debate must be opened. Now Alan Hart, London-based author, journalist and researcher says even if the British government feels the heat to arrest Netanyahu, it would forewarn him against traveling to the UK.

Earlier this month, the Israeli Ministry for Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the petition has “no real meaning,” adding: “Bilateral ties between Britain and Israel are closer than ever before.”