British ‘complicity’ in Gaza war under scrutiny at UK conference

The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) held a conference in London on Wednesday, which saw a wide-ranging discussion of Britain’s complicity in Israel’s war on Gaza.

Speakers shed light on various little-known aspects of Britain’s support for Israel’s latest war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Britain’s role in Israel’s war on Gaza is facing increasing scrutiny, particularly regarding the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel despite its own assessments indicating non-compliance with international law. Concerns were also raised over the extensive data-gathering missions the UK conducted over Gaza during the onslaught, which Amnesty International has identified as genocide. 

The seminar was attended by prominent journalists, legal analysts and human rights defenders who discussed the dimensions of Britain’s support of Israel from various angles.

Investigative journalist Matt Kennard spoke about Britain’s military support to Israel, pointing out that on 28 October 2023, the UK government had issued a ‘D-Notice’ (a state order prohibiting media coverage) – to prevent media reports revealing the presence of British special forces in Gaza.

He explained that British surveillance teams had also collected intelligence data it would have been impossible for Israel to obtain alone, according to a leaked New York Times report.

Kennard criticised “the deliberate media blackout” by the UK press, and said the Labour government’s decision to suspend 30 weapons export licenses out of 350 to Israel was just a ploy for the media.

He added that Britain had carried out 47 percent of the total number of reconnaissance missions conducted over Gaza, which was more than double the number of flights carried out by Israel.

Human rights lawyer Tayab Ali, who heads the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), spoke about the legal dimensions of Britain’s role.

This involved weapons exports and manoeuvres to provide diplomatic cover that had worked to facilitate the Israeli war.

He stressed that by continuing to sell arms to Israel despite the growing evidence it had committed war crimes, Britain had made itself complicit in the assault.

Political activist and researcher Samer Jabir spoke about the financial links between UK institutions and Israeli banks funding Israeli settlements.

He highlighted that these links were vital to the continuation of Israel’s illegal occupation and settlement expansion activities on Palestinian land.

British Palestinian Committee (BPC) director Sara Husseini warned of the escalating repression against pro-Palestine activists in Britain, as well as political developments likely to unfold in the coming stage, like the strengthening of the Abraham Accords, the goal of which is to fully normalise Israel’s apartheid regime.

Zaher Birawi, president of the PFB, said that the goal of the seminar was to expose Britain’s role in supporting Israel and its occupation and raise public awareness about ways to leverage legal and popular pressure to hold Britain accountable.

He added that any development in the UK-Palestinian relationship was contingent on Britain withdrawing support for Israel’s occupation, fully recognising Palestinian national rights, and offering an official apology for historical crimes.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 47,283 Palestinians and wounded at least 111,472 others since 7 October 2023, and levelled entire neighbourhoods.