Jeremy Corbyn to Keir Starmer – an independent inquiry into the UK’s involvement in the war on Gaza

“Many people believe that the government has taken decisions that have implicated officials in the gravest breaches of international law.”

Jeremy Corbyn MP has written to the Prime Minister calling for an independent inquiry into the UK’s involvement in the war in Gaza. You can read the letter published in full below.

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to demand an independent inquiry into the UK’s involvement in the war on Gaza.

In the aftermath of the Iraq War, several attempts were made to establish an inquiry surrounding the conduct of British military operations. The then-government resisted these attempts, but could not prevent the publication of a wide-ranging report led by Sir John Chilcot. Published in 2016, the report found serious failings within the British government, which ignored the warnings of millions of ordinary people over its disastrous decision to go to war.

History is repeating itself. Today, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 61,000. At least 110,000 – or one in twenty – people have been injured. It is estimated that 92% of housing units have been destroyed or damaged. Two Israeli officials are now wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Britain has played a highly influential role in Israel’s military operations. A recent report by the British Palestinian Committee has outlined the extent of this relationship, including the sale of weapons, the supply of intelligence and the use of Royal Air Force (RAF) bases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia on the island of Cyprus.

Many of us have repeatedly made objections over the continued sale of F-35 components. We have repeatedly asked for the truth regarding the role of British military bases. And we have repeatedly requested the publication of legal advice behind the government’s (currently unknown) definition of genocide. Our requests have been met with evasion, obstruction and silence, leaving the public in the dark over the ways in which the responsibilities of government have been discharged.

Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of democracy. Therefore, I will be working with colleagues in pursuing all avenues to establish an independent, public inquiry into the UK’s involvement in Israel’s military assault in Gaza.

This inquiry should establish exactly what decisions have been taken, how these decisions have been made, and what consequences they have had. Any meaningful inquiry would require the full co-operation from government ministers involved in decision-making processes since October 2023.

Many people believe that the government has taken decisions that have implicated officials in the gravest breaches of international law. These charges will not go away until there is a comprehensive inquiry with the legal power to establish the truth.

Yours sincerely,

Rt. Hon. Jeremy Corbyn MP

Independent MP for Islington North

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• The above is the text of a letter sent from Jeremy Corbyn to Keir Starmer on March 3 2025.
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