6 days ago
Rebel Labour MPs back Corbyn over Gaza
Labour rebels have backed Jeremy Corbyn over a campaign to launch an inquiry into the UK's involvement in the war in Gaza.
Eight of the party's MPs have joined its former leader to call for a Chilcot-style hearing, held to examine Britain's involvement in the 2003 war in Iraq, into the role of the UK Government in the conflict.
Mr Corbyn, who now sits as an independent MP, said history was 'repeating itself' and that Britain had 'played a highly influential role in Israel's military operations'.
He made the call in a parliamentary motion, backed by figures including veteran Labour MPs Diane Abbott and Jon Trickett, demanding a 'comprehensive inquiry with the legal power to establish the truth'.
Only around 35 members of the Commons and the Lords have signed the motion, making it extremely unlikely to pass.
However, it demonstrates the continued frustration among some backbenchers about what they perceive as an insufficiently tough stance on the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, in the war.
Israel is under growing pressure from the international community to end its war against Hamas, which was launched after the terror group massacred around 1,200 Israelis on Oct 7 2023.
Last month, David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, suspended trade negotiations with Israel in protest at the expansion of its military's ground operation in Gaza, which he called 'an affront to the values of British people'.
In a speech to MPs, he said Israel's 'egregious' policies in Gaza and the West Bank were 'damaging' Britain's relationship with the country.
Some Labour MPs have demanded a complete arms embargo, an idea ruled out by Mr Lammy in the past, as well as sanctions on Mr Netanyahu and his ministers.
More than 40 MPs have signed a letter urging the Foreign Secretary to address allegations that the UK has continued to export military equipment to Israel, despite suspending some arms export licences.
A Foreign Office spokesman said that the 'relevant licences for the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] that might be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza' had been suspended.
They added that the 'vast majority' of the remaining licences for Israel were for 'civilian purposes or re-export', other than the F-35 fighter jet programme 'due to its strategic role in Nato and wider implications for international peace and security'.
New military tactics by Israeli forces involving massive air strikes, along with food and aid shortages, have sapped goodwill from European allies.
Mr Corbyn said an inquiry was needed to 'establish exactly what decisions have been taken, how these decisions have been made, and what consequences they have had'.
His motion added: 'Many people believe that the Government has taken decisions that have implicated officials in the gravest breaches of international law '.
