“While Israel must be held fully accountable for its flagrant breaches of international law, we also must establish what role successive British governments have played in this war.”
Chris Hazzard MP
All seven Sinn Féin MPs have signed an open letter calling for a public inquiry into the British government’s involvement in the war on Gaza. It follows independent MP Jeremy Corbyn writing to the British Prime Minister on March 3 calling for this.
Speaking on Wednesday, South Down MP Chris Hazzard said: “For 18 months now, the Israeli army has continually attacked the defenceless population of Gaza, while world leaders turn a blind eye to these barbaric and inhumane actions. Some members of the international community are complicit in the ongoing genocide, displacement and apartheid targeting the Palestine people.
This letter calls for a public inquiry into the British government’s role in the war on Gaza, and how it has assisted Netanyahu’s reckless and out-of-control regime. While Israel must be held fully accountable for its flagrant breaches of international law, we also must establish what role successive British governments have played in this war. Sinn Féin will continue to call for a lasting peaceful settlement that leads to an independent Palestinian state, and an end to the genocide, occupation and collective punishment.”
You can read the full statement and its current list of signatories below.
We need 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. Published in 2016, the Chilcot inquiry 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. 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, including the sale of weapons, the supply of intelligence and the use of Royal Air Force (RAF) bases in Cyprus.
Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of democracy. Therefore, we are demanding 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.
Signed:
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Diane Abbott MP
Shockat Adam MP
Órfhlaith Begley MP
Sian Berry MP
Baroness Christine Blower
Pat Cullen MP
Richard Burgon MP
Ian Byrne MP
Lord Michael Cashman CBE
Ann Davies MP
Neil Duncan-Jordan MP
John Finucane MP
Chris Hazzard MP
Lord John Hendy
Dáire Hughes MP
Imran Hussain MP
Adnan Hussain MP
Baroness Jenny Jones
Kim Johnson MP
Ayoub Khan MP
Ben Lake MP
Chris Law MP
Graham Leadbitter MP
Brian Leishman MP
Cathal Mallaghan MP
Paul Maskey MP
Llinos Medi MP
Iqbal Mohamed MP
Brendan O’Hara MP
Liz Saville Roberts MP
Lord Prem Sikka
Lord Indarjit Singh
Zarah Sultana MP
Jon Trickett MP
Steve Witherden MP
Nadia Whittome MP
- Chris Hazzard is the Member of Parliament for South Down: you can follow him on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram.
- Chris Hazzard MP will be speaking on 30th April alongside guests from labour movement and progressive organisations around the world at International Rally for Peace & Socialism: No to Trump’s New World Disorder, an online eve-of-May Day rally hosted by Arise: A Festival of Left Ideas. You can find out more and register here.
- This article was originally published by Sinn Féin on 11 March 2025.
