UK complicit in Israeli war crimes, Jeremy Corbyn's tribunal hears

There were around 50 people packed into a room in Westminster's historic Church House to hear evidence on Britain's role in Israel's genocide in Gaza. But over 12,000 people were watching online.

Thursday was the first day of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's highly publicised Gaza Tribunal, which aims to hold Britain accountable for its role in enabling Israel’s ongoing war crimes in Gaza.

The independent MP, now a key figure in the establishment of a new left-wing party, put forward a bill earlier this year for a public Chilcot-style inquiry into Britain's military cooperation with Israel.

But the Labour government blocked the bill. This unofficial two-day inquest is taking place instead.

There was nothing trivial about the tribunal. Eyewitnesses, UN rapporteurs, journalists, medics and academics all gave evidence on Thursday.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on occupied Palestine, addressed the inquiry over Zoom.

She said there is a "requirement on states like the UK to cease investment and economic relations with the state of Israel."

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