Latest news with #MichaelMansfieldKC
Leaders
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
UK Lawyers Target 10 Britons Over Alleged Gaza War Crimes
Ten British citizens, including dual nationals, served in the Israeli army face legal action for alleged accusations of committing war crimes in Gaza. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and UK-based Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) submitted a 240-page report to London's Metropolitan Police. It alleges murder, civilian attacks, and forced displacement. Lawyers demand urgent probes into these crimes. Michael Mansfield KC, a human rights barrister, argues British nationals are not 'above the law'. The dossier aims to deter future recruits from joining Israel's military. Evidence and Charges The report cites open-source data, witness accounts, and legal analysis. It links the accused to atrocities like extermination and targeting aid workers. Franck Magennis, a barrister, stressed British law allows prosecuting citizens for international crimes. 'They should face the full force of the law,' he said. Magennis compared this case to South Africa's efforts against dual nationals in Israel's military. He urged the UK to act, noting global scrutiny of foreign recruits. Ayoub Khan, a UK MP, called the submission a 'crucial first step' with potential worldwide deterrence. Over 50,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died in Gaza since October 2023. The ICC recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes. Short link : Post Views: 28
Saudi Gazette
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
UK police assessing report accusing Britons of war crimes in Gaza
LONDON — The Metropolitan Police is deciding what action to take after receiving a report accusing 10 British nationals of war crimes and crimes against humanity while they served in Israel's military in Gaza. The 240-page report "will now be assessed by specialist officers to determine whether any UK-based investigation may be required", a Counter Terrorism Policing spokesperson said. A summary of the dossier accused the Britons of being involved in the forced displacement of civilians and coordinated attacks on protected sites. BBC News has contacted the Israel Defense Forces for a response. Israel previously described a report accusing it of similar crimes as "completely false". The new dossier, submitted to the Met's War Crimes Team on behalf of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Public Interest Law Centre, said the offences took place between October 2023 and May 2024. The 10 British nationals have not been named publicly. They are accused of "indiscriminate attacks" on civilian areas, including hospitals, and the "targeted killing" of civilians and aid served at officer level in the Israeli military, according to the summary of the report, and some were Israeli dual Met has received around 180 referrals relating to the war in Gaza since the conflict began."At this time, there is no UK-based investigation into any matters relating to this particular conflict," a statement from the force rights lawyer Michael Mansfield KC, one of those behind the report, called on the Met to take it "seriously", "investigate" and try the individuals if war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken back to Gaza as than 50,750 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory offensive since then, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. — BBC
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Met Police assessing report accusing Britons of war crimes in Gaza
The Metropolitan Police is deciding what action to take after receiving a report accusing 10 British nationals of war crimes and crimes against humanity while they served in Israel's military in Gaza. The 240-page report "will now be assessed by specialist officers to determine whether any UK-based investigation may be required", a Counter Terrorism Policing spokesperson said. A summary of the dossier accused the Britons of being involved in the forced displacement of civilians and coordinated attacks on protected sites. BBC News has contacted the Israel Defense Forces for a response. Israel previously described a report accusing it of similar crimes as "completely false". The new dossier, submitted to the Met's War Crimes Team on behalf of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Public Interest Law Centre, said the offences took place between October 2023 and May 2024. The 10 British nationals have not been named publicly. They are accused of "indiscriminate attacks" on civilian areas, including hospitals, and the "targeted killing" of civilians and aid workers. Some served at officer level in the Israeli military, according to the summary of the report, and some were Israeli dual nationals. The Met has received around 180 referrals relating to the war in Gaza since the conflict began. "At this time, there is no UK-based investigation into any matters relating to this particular conflict," a statement from the force added. Human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield KC, one of those behind the report, called on the Met to take it "seriously", "investigate" and try the individuals if proven. The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken back to Gaza as hostages. More than 50,750 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory offensive since then, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Two MPs 'astounded' after being denied entry to Israel Chemical burns, assaults, electric shocks - Gazans tell BBC of torture in Israeli detention Red Crescent calls for inquiry into Israel's killing of Gaza paramedics
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Met Police assessing claims Britons committed war crimes in Gaza
The Metropolitan Police is deciding what action to take after receiving a report accusing 10 British nationals of war crimes and crimes against humanity while they served in Israel's military in 240-page report "will now be assessed by specialist officers to determine whether any UK-based investigation may be required", a Counter Terrorism Policing spokesperson said.A summary of the dossier accused the Britons of being involved in the forced displacement of civilians and coordinated attacks on protected News has contacted the Israel Defense Forces for a response. Israel previously described a report accusing it of similar crimes as "completely false". The new dossier, submitted to the Met's War Crimes Team on behalf of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Public Interest Law Centre, said the offences took place between October 2023 and May 10 British nationals have not been named publicly. They are accused of "indiscriminate attacks" on civilian areas, including hospitals, and the "targeted killing" of civilians and aid served at officer level in the Israeli military, according to the summary of the report, and some were Israeli dual Met has received around 180 referrals relating to the war in Gaza since the conflict began."At this time, there is no UK-based investigation into any matters relating to this particular conflict," a statement from the force added. Human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield KC, one of those behind the report, called on the Met to take it "seriously", "investigate" and try the individuals if war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken back to Gaza as than 50,750 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory offensive since then, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Met to assess war crimes claims about British nationals in Israeli military
The Metropolitan Police will assess whether to investigate allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity made against 10 British nationals who served in the Israeli military. The individuals are accused of targeted killing of civilians and aid workers in Gaza between October 2023 and May 2024. British nationals were also involved in attacks on civilian areas including hospitals and protected areas such as historical monuments and religious sites, a 240-page report filed with the Met Police claims. A Counter-Terrorism Policing spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that we received a referral from a group of lawyers on Monday April 7. 'As is the case with all such referrals, this will now be assessed by specialist officers to determine whether any UK-based investigation may be required. 'The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to impact communities in the UK and internationally, and we recognise the strength of feeling on all sides. 'We remain focused on supporting victims and witnesses who report core international crimes, as well as supporting the UK families of those directly affected by the terrorist attacks in Israel.' The suspects, who the lawyers did not publicly identify citing legal reasons, are said to include individuals at officer level and Israeli dual nationals. Human rights barrister Michael Mansfield KC, part of the team of legal experts who lodged the report, said: 'Over the years, the efficacy of the system the UK established is slowly failing. 'We are standing on the brink of collapse of the order. Israel has taken it upon themselves to act on the impunity that nothing is going to happen to them. 'It's dire. But it doesn't have to be this way.' The Met said it has received around 180 referrals related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict since it began on October 7 2023. There has not been a UK-based investigation into any matters related to the conflict yet. Paul Heron, PILC legal director, said: 'There are definitely unique challenges to expect from this investigation. 'I have worked with the Met Police War Crimes Unit before, and I absolutely expect them to investigate. They have a duty to investigate. 'It could take two or three years. It's not going to be simple.' The report, filed on behalf of Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), includes testimony from witnesses in Gaza. A witness, whose relatives were killed in an Israeli attack, said: 'I could not bear what I saw: dead bodies scattered next to each other. 'I took off the cover and saw the bodies of my uncle and his son, my nephews, and my brother-in-law.' Another witness at a medical facility said they saw corpses 'scattered on the ground, especially in the middle of the hospital courtyard, where many dead bodies were buried in a mass grave.' A bulldozer 'ran over a dead body in a horrific and heart-wrenching scene desecrating the dead,' the unnamed witness said. Iqbal Mohamed, an independent MP for Dewsbury and Batley, said: 'People in the UK are living next to a neighbour who played target practice with children. 'Anyone that supports Israel, directly or indirectly, should be investigated.' Joint statement from myself and Abtisam Mohamed MP. — Yuan Yang (@YuanfenYang) April 6, 2025 Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed were denied entry to Israel on Saturday as they were suspected of wanting 'to document Israeli security forces and spread hateful rhetoric against Israel', the Times of Israel said. In January, Ms Yang, the MP for Earley and Woodley in Berkshire, told the Commons about the 'atrocious conditions' faced by medics in Gaza. Mr Mohamed said: 'Keir Starmer has been silent on his own MPs being denied entry into Israel. 'It's extremely hard sitting in the chamber when MPs stand up for international law and rights, and watching them be heckled and goaded as if they were speaking expletives. 'It was quite hard to get used to the lack of humanity and compassion in the chamber.'
