Latest news with #Corbyn
Saba Yemen
17 hours ago
- Business
- Saba Yemen
Media Reports: British Company sent 1,000 ammunition containers to "Israel" during aggression on Gaza
London - Saba: British media reports indicate that a British engineering company sent more than 1,000 ammunition containers to an Israeli company, the primary supplier to the occupation army, during the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. According to what was published Monday, by the British websites Declassified and Detach, new documents confirm that the British company Bermuda Industries sent more than 1,000 ammunition containers to the Israeli company Elbit Systems since October 2023, at the height of the ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip, raising concerns about arms export controls in the United Kingdom. British reports indicated that the Durham-based engineering company sent 16 shipments of storage containers weighing more than 100 tons to Elbit Systems, which produces a range of weapons for the Israeli occupation army, including 155mm and 122mm artillery shells. The Bermuda Industries website indicates that the company produces a "wide range of ammunition containers" for belted ammunition, cartridges, mortar shells, and artillery shells. 920 containers were shipped to Elbit's Ramat Hasharon plant between October 2023 and April 2025, with another 160 containers shipped to Elbit's Advanced Technology Center in Haifa in December 2023. Elbit is a major supplier of mortars to the Israeli military and has participated in the design and manufacture of ground systems and products for armored vehicles, artillery systems, and shells used in the Gaza War. The Israeli military has also tested and deployed several mortar systems since the start of the offensive, including the Iron Sting system, which has a range of 1 to 12 kilometers. According to the documents, 360 containers were sent in April 2025, as the Israeli attack on Gaza escalated. The shipments were transported by the Israeli shipping company Zim to the port of Ashdod. Declassified estimated the total weight of these shipments at more than 135 tons. The UK Department for Business and Trade told Declassified: "We have a strict licensing regime for the export of controlled goods, and we have suspended all licenses for items intended for the Israeli military that may be used in military operations in Gaza. This is based on our assessment that these items may be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law, subject to specific measures taken for the global F-35 program." Britain is witnessing ongoing demonstrations demanding an end to arms exports to the Zionist enemy, the most recent of which was the siege of Parliament by 10,000 protesters last Wednesday. Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn also introduced a bill calling for a full, public, and independent investigation into the UK's role in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, asserting that the government continues to permit the supply of weapons to a country whose leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court. In previous press statements, Corbyn said, "The continued supply of components for the F-35 fighter program is disgusting and must be investigated." He asked, "Is this an exception to the government's legal obligations to prevent genocide? One thing is beyond doubt: this government continues to permit the supply of weapons to a country whose leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity." With American and European support, the enemy has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 54,927 civilians, most of them children and women, in addition to more than 11,000 missing persons. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Middle East Eye
5 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Jeremy Corbyn: UK must decide if it will 'block efforts to expose truth' over Israel support
Jeremy Corbyn has told Middle East Eye that the British government must decide whether it will support an inquiry into UK involvement in Israel's war on Gaza, or 'block our efforts to expose the truth'. On Wednesday, the former Labour leader presented in parliament his bill for an independent, Chilcot-style public inquiry into Britain's support for Israeli military operations in Gaza. The bill passed without division and Corbyn hailed the development, telling MEE: 'We have passed a major hurdle in establishing an independent inquiry into the UK's involvement in Gaza. 'I will now be writing to the prime minister to ask for assurance that the government will not stand in the way.' The independent MP said: 'The government must decide: will it support an inquiry that has support from MPs across the political spectrum, or will it block our efforts to expose the truth?' New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters John McDonnell, the former Labour shadow chancellor, who is also supporting the bill, told MEE: 'All we are asking for is the truth to be told about the genocide taking place in Gaza, not just to expose the horrendous brutality of Israel's actions, but to enable those accountable for this war crime to be held to account.' The Gaza (Independent Public Inquiry) bill is now on the House of Commons' order of business for 4 July, though it is listed low down the order paper and will only be debated if the government decides to give it the time. There are already indications that Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government will seek to torpedo efforts to establish an inquiry, which would seek the full cooperation of both Labour and Conservative ministers involved in decision-making processes since October 2023, when Israel's war on Gaza began following the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October. Asked by Corbyn about the provision of components for the F-35 jets used by Israel and if the government would support his inquiry, the UK Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer replied: 'I do not see that this could be any further scrutinised and litigated… or what an independent inquiry on the F-35 parts would achieve.' In an earlier statement on Gaza, Falconer said the British government was 'appalled by repeated reports of mass casualty incidents, in which Palestinians have been killed when trying to access aid sites in Gaza'. He said Britain was continuing to 'strongly support efforts led by the US, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza', and that the Israeli government's 'decision to expand its military operations in Gaza and severely restrict aid' undermined these goals. 'All we are asking for is the truth to be told about the genocide taking place in Gaza' - John McDonnell, former Labour shadow chancellor Presenting his bill in parliament shortly after Falconer's response, Corbyn spoke of the need for an inquiry into the UK's 'economic, military and political cooperation with Israel since October 2023,' including the sale or supply of weapons and the use of the Royal Air Force base Akrotiri on Cyprus, from which transport and spy planes fly regularly. He said the inquiry should find out the full list of military shipments to Israel, stating: 'It's very simple: until this government ends the sale of weapons to Israel, it remains complicit in the mass murder of Palestinians.' Corbyn referenced the Chilcot inquiry into the UK's involvement in the Iraq war, which was published – after much resistance from the government – in 2016 and found 'serious failings within the British government'. Labour's leader at the time, Corbyn apologised for his party's 'catastrophic decision to go to war in Iraq'. In parliament on Wednesday, Corbyn said 'history is now repeating itself'. UK: Corbyn and new independent MPs urge Labour to act on Gaza Read More » 'Over the past 18 months, human beings have endured a level of horror and inhumanity that should haunt us all forever,' he said of Israel's war on Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 55,000 Palestinians. 'We are not just witnessing a war, we are witnessing a genocide, this time live-streamed all over the world,' he continued. Corbyn highlighted Britain's "highly influential role in Israel's military operations'. Export data released in May showed that the UK approved $169m worth of military equipment to Israel between October and December 2024, shortly after the Labour government had partially suspended arms exports over concerns they could be used unlawfully in Gaza. RAF flights British surveillance flights over Gaza have continued even following Foreign Secretary David Lammy's announcement that the UK was suspending free trade agreement talks with Israel in response to its expanded military operations in the Palestinian enclave. RAF shadow aircraft have conducted hundreds of surveillance flights from Akrotiri over Gaza since the war began. Corbyn called for the inquiry to uncover what exactly the base in Cyprus is being used for, regarding the supply of arms and intelligence. 'In the future, our history books will shame those who had the opportunity to stop this massacre' - Jeremy Corbyn At least 40 parliamentarians now support Corbyn's bill, and MEE understands that more MPs have expressed support for a second reading following the former Labour leader's Wednesday speech in parliament. 'Today, children are taught about history's worst crimes against humanity. They are asked to reflect on how these crimes could have possibly occurred,' Corbyn said in that speech. 'In the future, our history books will shame those who had the opportunity to stop this massacre but chose to enable atrocity after atrocity instead.'
Days of Palestine
5 days ago
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Corbyn Secures Parliamentary Backing to Introduce Inquiry Bill into Gaza Genocide
DayofPal– Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has cleared a significant hurdle in his campaign to launch a formal investigation into the United Kingdom's complicity the Israeli 'genocide in Gaza.' On Wednesday, Corbyn was granted permission by Parliament to introduce a bill that would establish a full public inquiry into the UK's military and political ties to Israel. The inquiry, he said, would be modeled on the landmark Chilcot Inquiry, which examined Britain's role in the Iraq War. 'The public deserves to know the full extent of the UK's complicity in these atrocities,' Corbyn told MPs during remarks in the House of Commons. 'We cannot allow our role in the suffering of Palestinians to go unexamined.' The motion was introduced by the newly formed Independent Alliance, a bloc led by Corbyn and composed of pro-Palestinian MPs elected during the last general election. In a notable development, the motion passed without opposition from any sitting MP, allowing the bill to advance to a second reading. If passed, the proposed legislation would establish an independent inquiry into UK arms sales to Israel, as well as the use of RAF Akrotiri, a British airbase in Cyprus, for potential military coordination linked to the ongoing war in Gaza. Corbyn has proposed July 4 as the date for the bill's second reading, setting the stage for a potentially contentious debate on the UK's foreign policy and defence commitments in the Middle East. The bill represents a historic political moment. It is the first time that the UK Parliament has formally considered launching an investigation into the country's role in the Gaza war, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the onset of the war in October 2023. While the bill faces considerable legislative hurdles ahead, its introduction underscores growing pressure within Westminster to confront Britain's accountability in international war. Shortlink for this post:
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Parliament moves closer to setting up Iraq war-style inquiry into Gaza conflict
A Chilcot-style inquiry would uncover the 'murky history of what's gone on' in Gaza, Jeremy Corbyn has said. Parliament moved a step closer to setting up a probe after MPs agreed that the Gaza (Independent Public Inquiry) Bill should be listed for a debate later this year. The draft new law would 'require the inquiry to consider any UK military, economic or political co-operation with Israel since October 2023', the month when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel and killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped more than 250 others. Israel's retaliatory offensive has seen more than 54,000 people in Gaza killed, according to the territory's health ministry. 'Our future history books will report with shame those that had the opportunity to stop this carnage but failed to act to achieve it, and so we will continue our campaigns in this House and outside because we're appalled at what is happening,' the former Labour Party leader told the Commons. Mr Corbyn, the Independent MP for Islington North, had earlier said: 'In the aftermath of the Iraq war, several attempts were made to establish an inquiry surrounding the conduct of the British military operations. 'The government of the day spent many years resisting those attempts and those demands for an inquiry, however, they could not prevent the inevitable and in 2016 we had the publication of the Chilcot Inquiry, which Sir John Chilcot had undertaken over several years.' Mr Corbyn added that when he was the Labour leader, when the 12-volume report came out, he 'apologised on behalf of the Labour Party for the catastrophic decision to go to war in Iraq' and added: 'History is now repeating itself.' He warned that 'human beings have endured a level of horror and inhumanity that should haunt us all forever – entire families wiped out, limbs strewn across the street, mothers screaming for their children buried under the rubble, human beings torn to pieces, doctors performing amputations without anaesthetic, children picking grass and dirt from the ground thinking they might find something edible to eat'. Mr Corbyn alleged that the UK had a 'highly influential role in Israel's military operations', including by supplying weapons, and also said a future inquiry should seek the 'truth regarding the role of British military bases in Cyprus' and Government 'legal advice over an assessment of genocide'. He said the inquiry would uncover the 'murky history of what's gone on, the murky arms sales and the complicity in appalling acts of genocide'. Deputy Speaker Nus Ghani called 'order' when several MPs applauded, as Mr Corbyn presented his Bill. The Bill will be listed for its next debate on July 4.
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Parliament moves closer to setting up Iraq war-style inquiry into Gaza conflict
Parliament moved a step closer to setting up a probe after MPs agreed that the Gaza (Independent Public Inquiry) Bill should be listed for a debate later this year. The draft new law would 'require the inquiry to consider any UK military, economic or political co-operation with Israel since October 2023', the month when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel and killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped more than 250 others. Israel's retaliatory offensive has seen more than 54,000 people in Gaza killed, according to the territory's health ministry. 'Our future history books will report with shame those that had the opportunity to stop this carnage but failed to act to achieve it, and so we will continue our campaigns in this House and outside because we're appalled at what is happening,' the former Labour Party leader told the Commons. Mr Corbyn, the Independent MP for Islington North, had earlier said: 'In the aftermath of the Iraq war, several attempts were made to establish an inquiry surrounding the conduct of the British military operations. 'The government of the day spent many years resisting those attempts and those demands for an inquiry, however, they could not prevent the inevitable and in 2016 we had the publication of the Chilcot Inquiry, which Sir John Chilcot had undertaken over several years.' Mr Corbyn added that when he was the Labour leader, when the 12-volume report came out, he 'apologised on behalf of the Labour Party for the catastrophic decision to go to war in Iraq' and added: 'History is now repeating itself.' He warned that 'human beings have endured a level of horror and inhumanity that should haunt us all forever – entire families wiped out, limbs strewn across the street, mothers screaming for their children buried under the rubble, human beings torn to pieces, doctors performing amputations without anaesthetic, children picking grass and dirt from the ground thinking they might find something edible to eat'. Mr Corbyn alleged that the UK had a 'highly influential role in Israel's military operations', including by supplying weapons, and also said a future inquiry should seek the 'truth regarding the role of British military bases in Cyprus' and Government 'legal advice over an assessment of genocide'. He said the inquiry would uncover the 'murky history of what's gone on, the murky arms sales and the complicity in appalling acts of genocide'. Deputy Speaker Nus Ghani called 'order' when several MPs applauded, as Mr Corbyn presented his Bill. The Bill will be listed for its next debate on July 4.
