In 2001 the UK Government ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by enacting the International Criminal Court Act and the International Criminal Court (Scotland) Act. These two laws make is a criminal offence in the UK for any person to engage in war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and conduct ancillary to those crimes, such as aiding, abetting counselling or procuring the commission of an offence. This includes the collection of taxes that will be used in the commission of such crimes. It is our lawful duty not to be complicit in funding such crimes via our taxes.
- Arming Israel: The UK has provided direct military assistance to and political cover for Israel during its genocide, in which it has killed thousands of Palestinian civillians, while the Starmer regime in the UK is targeting journalists and activists who draw attention to and oppose Israel’s war crimes.
- UN Votes: Israel in breach of International Law: With 124 votes in favour, 43 abstentions and only 12 votes against (including Israel and the US) the UN has now demanded that Israel ends its unlawful presence in Palestinian territories within 12 months. This means that ALL those investing in companies involved in any way with the illegal settlements or Occupied Territories are in breach of international law.
- A team of forty-seven South African lawyers is finalising its lawsuit against the UK and US for their complicity in Israel’s genocide and other war crimes against Palestinians.
- Lawyers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have informed the UK Government they are in breach of international law by selling arms to Israel.
- In his resignation letter in which he accused the FCDO of complicity in War Crimes, British Foreign Office diplomat Mark Smith wrote: ‘Israeli soldiers take videos deliberately burning, destroying and looting civilian property and openly admit to the rape and torture of prisoners’. He chose not to be complicit – morally or legally.
- The Civil Servants Union (PCS) has threatened legal action against the government to prevent its members from being forced to carry out unlawful acts and being found complicit.
- Officials in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have raised concerns with senior civil servants that they may be liable if it is deemed Israel has broken international law. Considering the statements made by senior Knesset officials and the ICC arrest warrants sought for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, it is a matter of when, not if.
- A criminal action has been filed against four cabinet ministers and is now being considered by the Scotland Yard War Crimes Unit.
- The ICJ has added ‘widespread starvation’ to its original Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.
- Councils are already divesting: Walthamstow, Islington, Slough, Cambridge and more.
- Companies and unions such as AXA, Puma and USS (largest private sector pension fund, the Universities Superannuation Scheme) are cancelling their investment in Israel.
- The new Attorney General Richard Hermer KC says councils should be able to boycott Israel. i.e. – The buck stops with the council.
- The International Criminal Court has been officially called to investigate Ursula von der Leyen for complicity in war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, to the extent that she has aided, abetted and otherwise assisted in the commission or attempted commission of such crimes.
- Current Israeli breaches of international and humanitarian law include prison torture https://www.btselem.org/
- https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/03/un-human-rights-chief-deplores-new-moves-expand-israeli-settlements-occupied and add cases when the government has been proved – in court – to be acting unlawfully https://caat.org.uk/news/2019-06-20-2/
- Further evidentiary links below:
Order of 26 January 2024 | INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (icj-cij.org)
Written questions and answers – Written questions, answers and statements – UK Parliament
Written questions and answers – Written questions, answers and statements – UK Parliament
Britain has flown 50 spy missions over Gaza in support of Israel (declassifieduk.org)
CAAT – Statement on UK Arms Exports to Israel
U.S. military is secretly supplying weapons to Israel using UK base on Cyprus (declassifieduk.org)
Israel’s evidence of UNRWA Hamas allegations examined – Channel 4 News
US cut UNRWA funds but Blinken says Gaza claims not verified (newarab.com)
UNRWA staff accused by Israel sacked without evidence, chief admits | United Nations | The Guardian
131-20040709-ADV-01-00-EN.pdf (icj-cij.org)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68177357