“I feel Israel does have that proper.”
When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned final week, an outdated however eternally damning clip resurfaced. Showing on a London radio present in October 2023, the previous human rights lawyer advised the host that Israel had the suitable to chop water and electrical energy off to the besieged inhabitants of Gaza.
This was no slip of the tongue. As an alternative, it represented the instincts of a person who went on to supervise Britain’s complicity within the biggest crime of our time. In opposition, Starmer helped Israel accrue the boldness and capital it wanted to justify its crimes. In workplace, his authorities helped Israel accrue the army means it wanted to hold them out.
After Starmer took workplace in July 2024, the worth of arms export licences granted from October to December that 12 months alone was 127.6 million pounds ($168.8m), far increased than what was permitted by the Conservative authorities from 2020 to 2023. In September 2024, Labour Overseas Secretary David Lammy introduced a partial suspension of arms exports to Israel. Pausing about 30 arms export licences out of a complete of 350, the federal government made one, large, obvious omission: the continued provide of components for Israel’s F-35 stealth fighter jets. This included parts that went to the USA to be despatched on to Israel and spare components that went into international stockpiles which will have gone to Israel.
Arms gross sales sometimes dominate discussions of British complicity. Nevertheless, maybe much more important has been the continued position of Royal Air Drive Akrotiri base in Cyprus. “The entire world and everybody again at house is counting on you. Fairly a little bit of what goes on right here can’t essentially be talked about all the time. We will’t essentially inform the world what you’re doing.” That is what Starmer advised service members whereas visiting the RAF base in December 2024. If Starmer gained’t inform the world, we are going to: RAF bases have been a important website of complicity, principally by way of the efficiency of routine RAF surveillance flights over Gaza.
Israel has not simply relied on the UK’s army assist however its financial assist too. The federal government ought to have been utilizing each single financial and political software at its disposal to drive Israel to cease. That’s the method the federal government has taken in the direction of Russia. Refusing to do the identical to Israel is rank hypocrisy – and proof of financial, diplomatic and political complicity. A sprinkling of sanctions towards a handful of maximum settlers and ministers doesn’t lower it. With out complete sanctions, Israel won’t ever adhere to worldwide regulation: not in Gaza, not within the West Financial institution, not in Lebanon, not anyplace.
In June 2025, I offered a personal members’ invoice to the UK Parliament, calling for an impartial, public inquiry into British involvement in Israel’s army operations in Gaza. The federal government blocked it, explaining that there was “no want” for an inquiry.
In response, we held our own tribunal. Over the course of two days, a variety of witnesses proved past doubt that the British authorities has been complicit in struggle crimes, crimes towards humanity and genocide.
Shortly after the tribunal, I wrote to the Worldwide Legal Court docket (ICC) to ask it to interview authorities ministers, together with Starmer, over the position they’ve performed in one of many biggest crimes of our time. An ICC investigation might do what the inquiries into the Iraq struggle by no means did: result in actual accountability and actual justice.
Starmer’s doubtless successor will likely be former Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham. If he needs to sign a change from Starmer, he would do one thing easy: finish Britain’s complicity in genocide. Meaning ending all arms gross sales to Israel. Meaning imposing complete sanctions. Meaning reversing the draconian assault on the suitable to protest and de-proscribing Palestine Motion.
Burnham shouldn’t simply finish Britain’s complicity within the Gaza genocide. He ought to finish Britain’s relentless march to struggle. Starmer left workplace boasting about large will increase in army spending. He didn’t point out his authorities’s failure to finish the grotesque ranges of poverty and homelessness in our society, nor his shameful makes an attempt to slash welfare to fund his thirst for warfare.
As an alternative of spending cash on bombs and bullets, Burnham ought to spend it on faculties and our Nationwide Well being Service. Finally, we are going to by no means result in actual change with out a mass redistribution of wealth, possession and energy. Meaning wealth taxes, lease controls, and an finish to privatisation in vitality, rail, mail, water and healthcare.
It’s becoming that on the exact same day Starmer resigned, I represented my invoice for an impartial inquiry. If Burnham was severe about bringing about change, he would support my bill and make this inquiry a actuality. Starmer could also be gone, however we aren’t going anyplace, and we is not going to cease till there may be justice for the Palestinian folks.
The views expressed on this article are the creator’s personal and don’t essentially mirror Al Jazeera’s editorial coverage.
