UK Police Assessing Claims of British Government Officials’ Complicity in Starvation of Palestinians
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has filed a criminal complaint with the Metropolitan Police in London, alleging that British government officials may be complicit in aiding and abetting the intentional starvation of Palestinians in Gaza.
The complaint, submitted on May 17, includes evidence collected from 19 medical professionals who have worked in Gaza since October 7, 2023. It names 22 individuals, including five senior UK government ministers, who are accused of supporting alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
According to the ICJP, the complaint is one of the most comprehensive submitted to Scotland Yard regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza, where more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed. The complaint alleges that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war, which is considered a war crime under UK legislation and international law.
The Metropolitan Police is currently assessing the complaint to determine whether a formal investigation will be carried out. If the force decides to proceed, alleged perpetrators could face arrest and prosecution.
The UK government has been a supporter of Israel following the recent conflict in Gaza, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stating that Israel has the right to defend its security. However, there have been calls for a humanitarian pause to allow aid to reach the civilian population in Gaza.
The ICJP is committed to ensuring that allegations of war crimes against Israeli individuals and those who enable them are prosecuted either domestically or internationally. The organization’s director, Tayab Ali, emphasized the need to hold accountable those who are complicit in such crimes.
The ICJP’s criminal complaint has sparked debate and scrutiny of the UK government’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict and its adherence to international humanitarian law. The outcome of the assessment by the Metropolitan Police will be closely watched by those concerned about justice for Palestinians in Gaza.