UK lawmakers join Corbyn's call for probe into UK's role in Gaza war
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Jeremy Corbyn had addressed Starmer in a letter insisting on the need for transparency regarding Britain’s involvement in the deadly war.
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Smoke and explosions rise inside the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, on March 17, 2024 (AP)
A cross-party group of British MPs has joined former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in calling for an independent, public inquiry into Britain's backing for the Israeli occupation during its war on Gaza, which killed tens of thousands of people.
Early this month, in a letter he addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which he shared on social media, Corbyn insisted on the need for transparency regarding Britain’s involvement in the deadly war, drawing parallels to the UK’s actions during the war on Iraq.
He cited the 2016 Chilcot Report, which revealed major failings in the British government’s decision to invade Iraq despite widespread public opposition. Corbyn warned that history is repeating itself, as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 61,000, with at least 110,000 people injured and vast destruction of residential areas.
He highlighted findings from the British Palestinian Committee, which outlined the extent of the UK’s support for the Israeli occupation, including arms sales, intelligence sharing, and the reported use of Royal Air Force bases in Cyprus. Corbyn also pointed to repeated but unanswered concerns over the sale of F-35 aircraft components to the Israeli regime and the lack of clarity on the UK government’s legal position on genocide.
Mark Smith, a British Foreign Office official who worked on counter terrorism, resigned last year because the British government failed to ban military sales to "Israel".
Corbyn is supported by Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, independent MP Zarah Sultana, Labour MPs Diane Abbott, Richard Burgon, Brian Leishman, and Brendan O'Hara of the Scottish National Party in calling for an independent and public investigation.
In a letter to The Guardian on Thursday, the organization stated that "Britain has played a highly influential role in Israel's military operations, including the sale of weapons, the supply of intelligence, and the use of Royal Air Force bases in Cyprus."
“Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of democracy. Therefore, we are demanding an independent, public inquiry into the UK’s involvement in Israel’s military assault in Gaza.”
The MPs asked that the probe have full cooperation from ministries engaged in decision-making procedures beginning in October 2023.
In addition to supplying information and granting "Israel" access to British military bases and infrastructure, Britain has provided combat aircraft, missiles, tanks, technology, small weapons, and ammunition to the occupation.
