Jeremy Corbyn launches investigation into UK complicity in war on Gaza
3 Min Read
Jeremy Corbyn's "Gaza Tribunal" in Westminster features key voices like Francesca Albanese and Dr. Raz Segal.
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Jeremy Corbyn attends a demonstration in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 (AP)
Independent British MP Jeremy Corbyn has opened a two-day "Gaza Tribunal" in Westminster to look into the UK’s potential complicity in Israeli aggression on Gaza. The initiative follows the Labour government's decision to block Corbyn’s proposed bill for a public inquiry into the UK's role in the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Taking place on Thursday and Friday at Church House in Westminster, the "Gaza Tribunal" will investigate whether the UK has breached its international legal obligations, particularly through arms sales, intelligence-sharing, and the use of RAF bases to support "Israel's" aggression.
The tribunal seeks to shed light on the scale of UK complicity in what has been widely described by human rights experts as a campaign of genocide against the Palestinian people.
Survivors, legal scholars, and whistleblowers are set to testify, providing evidence of how British-made weapons and military equipment may have contributed to the devastation in Gaza.
Read more: Corbyn to Al Mayadeen: New party to fight for justice and Palestine
'We will uncover the full scale of British complicity in genocide'
“Just like Iraq, the government is doing everything it can to protect itself from scrutiny. Just like Iraq, it will not succeed in its attempts to suffocate the truth. We will uncover the full scale of British complicity in genocide – and we will bring about justice for the people of Palestine," said Corbyn.
Among the prominent voices participating is Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. She welcomed the tribunal as a vital step toward accountability:
“Far from preventing the genocide in Gaza, the UK has continued to supply "Israel" in violation of its obligations to international law... We are talking here about liability for complicity with international crimes," she said.
Other speakers include genocide scholar Dr. Raz Segal, former UK Foreign Office official Mark Smith, who resigned in protest over arms sales to "Israell", and the lawyer for the family of James Henderson, a World Central Kitchen aid worker killed in Gaza.
Read more: UK executed 200 spy missions over Gaza to assist 'Israel' in genocide
The tribunal will be chaired by:
- Jeremy Corbyn, Independent MP and former Labour Party leader
- Neve Gordon, Professor of Human Rights Law, Queen Mary University
- Shahd Hammouri, Lecturer in International Law, University of Kent
- Public Access and Full Speaker List Revealed
Corbyn confirmed that all evidence and testimony presented during the tribunal will be made publicly available, ensuring transparency. The tribunal was set to begin at 10 am on Thursday and continues through Friday.
Other notable speakers include:
- Forz Khan (lawyer for the Henderson family)
- Emily Tripp (Airwars)
- Richard Falk (Professor of International Law)
- Jeff Halper (Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions)
- Natalie Roberts (Doctors Without Borders)
- Ben Jamal (Palestine Solidarity Campaign)
- Rami Khayal (Palestinian Youth Movement)
And many more journalists, lawyers, and humanitarian workers from across the globe.
The "Gaza Tribunal", though unofficial, aims to fill a gap left by Parliament’s refusal to open a formal investigation. It serves as a platform for truth-telling and global accountability, aligning with wider calls for justice for Palestine amid mounting international concern over war crimes committed by "Israel".
