UK Government's Complicity in Gaza: Findings from Corbyn-Led Tribunal

An unofficial tribunal chaired by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has concluded that the UK government has been complicit in crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, violating international law. The tribunal's report, set to be published on Monday, asserts that the UK should have ceased all arms exports to Israel, halted intelligence sharing, and reassessed its trade relations following the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion in July 2024, which deemed Israel's occupation of Palestine unlawful. The report emphasizes that the UK not only failed to prevent genocide but, in some instances, actively participated in such acts.

The Guardian

The tribunal, which included legal experts Dr. Shahd Hammouri and Neve Gordon, argues that the ICJ's findings impose a legal duty on the UK to refrain from trade dealings with Israel concerning occupied territories. The report criticizes the UK government for its self-imposed methodology that limited its examination of Israel's actions to specific attacks rather than assessing the broader impact on the healthcare system in Gaza. It recommends that the government release all licensing data, publish legal advice regarding its obligations to prevent genocide, and establish a public inquiry into its actions.

The Guardian

The findings of the tribunal are expected to influence the upcoming local elections in May, where Labour faces challenges from the Greens and Your Party, partly due to dissatisfaction over its stance on the Palestinian cause. The "Vote Palestine 2026" campaign, supported by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, is advocating for Gaza to be a key issue in local elections, with over 1,200 council candidates signing a commitment to Palestine. Your Party, led by Corbyn, has pledged to campaign vigorously on Gaza and Palestine, urging local councils to divest from Israel.

The Guardian

The UK Foreign Office has stated that it has imposed three sets of sanctions in response to settler violence in the West Bank and opposes all forms of forced displacement. Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer indicated that the government would update Parliament on issues related to the ICJ advisory opinion, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice for all crimes committed in Palestinian and Israeli territories.

The Guardian

Critics of the tribunal's findings argue that the report may be used politically to undermine Labour's position in the local elections. The methodology employed by the tribunal has also faced scrutiny, as it reportedly led to a conclusion of a breach of international humanitarian law in only one of the 413 cases examined. Falconer noted the challenges in obtaining sensitive information necessary for assessing individual incidents, suggesting that the tribunal's approach may not fully capture the complexities of the situation.

The Guardian

• “will help cement Labour’s legacy as an active participant in one of the great crimes of our time” — Jeremy Corbyn, Former Labour Leader

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• “There must be accountability and justice for all crimes committed right across Palestinian and Israeli territory,” — Hamish Falconer, Middle East Minister

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• “required the government to examine the impact of an individual strike on a hospital, but not the lawfulness of the decimation of the whole healthcare system” — Tribunal Report

The Guardian

The tribunal's findings and their implications for UK policy towards Israel and Palestine are poised to become a focal point in the political landscape as local elections approach.

The Guardian