100+ Britons in Israeli forces, illegal settlements: Declassified UK
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Confirmation from the UK Foreign Office indicates that at least 80 UK nationals are serving in the Israeli army, while approximately 20-30 British citizens reside in illegal settlements in the West Bank.
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Destroyed buildings stand in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Palestine, Thursday, March 28, 2024 (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
An investigation by Declassified UK published on Friday revealed that over 100 UK nationals are among Israeli forces and settlers, actively partaking in the land theft and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in both the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Confirmation from the UK Foreign Office indicates that at least 80 UK nationals are serving in the Israeli army, while approximately 20-30 British citizens reside in illegal settlements in the West Bank.
This disclosure which was obtained through a Freedom of Information request by Declassified has sparked debate over UK's complicity in the violations of human rights and international law.
The revelation follows a lengthy delay in the government's response to the Freedom of Information request, prompting the Information Commissioner to threaten contempt charges.
But it also contradicts previous statements by government officials denying the tracking of Britons serving in the Israeli army or living in illegal settlements, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Read more: UK sued for sending weapons for 'Israel's' genocide on Gaza
Service in the IOF and residence in illegal settlements carry legal implications, potentially violating international law, particularly regarding settlements on Palestinian land, which contravene the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The concept of "lone soldiers" in the IOF, along with the Mahal scheme allowing Israelis residing overseas to serve, underscores the complexities of UK nationals' involvement in the Israeli military.
The UK's lack of effective anti-mercenary legislation further complicates the situation, as there are no measures in place to prevent UK nationals from fighting for foreign powers, including the IOF.
Critics argue that Britain's failure to address these issues effectively undermines its commitment to upholding human rights and international law.
Questions have further been raised about the government's stance on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, with some calling for stronger condemnation and concrete measures to deter UK citizens from participating in activities deemed illegal under international law.
Read more: UK's Palestine Action forces closure of Israeli Elbit Systems factory
The war on Gaza which has now reached its 174th day has so far resulted in 32,490 martyrs and 74,889 injured, with material losses amounting to over $90 billion.
As for the widespread theft and dispossession of land, the practice initially commenced under the British Mandate (1920–1948), particularly with the implementation of the 1917 Balfour Declaration.
Before colonialism, Palestinian farmers had legal documentation, such as deeds, confirming their ownership of land. The cadastral system, which governed property transactions, was established as early as 1850 in the region.
In the early years of the occupation, the British occupying forces provided arms to the Zionists and facilitated the dispossession of Palestinians, which laid the groundwork for the widespread massacres and ethnic cleansing during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
On Thursday, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) announced that the area of land seized by the Israeli occupation in 2023 has reached 50,526 dunams (50.5 square km), compared to about 26,000 dunams (26 square km) in 2022.
The PCBS also announced that the occupation regime issued 32 orders to seize 619 dunams (0.6 square km), four orders to expropriate about 433 dunams (0.4 square km), and two orders to declare 515 dunams (0.5 square km) as "state land" during the past year.
The PCBS also stated that "Israel" issued four orders to amend the boundaries of nature reserves, through which it seized 48,959 dunams (48.9 square km).
