The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) Thursday submitted a formal complaint to Scotland Yard’s War Crimes Unit, accusing an unnamed British-born Israeli ex-government official of severe violations of international law. The allegations in their complaint revolve around abetting, inciting, and conspiring with the Israeli government to commit acts that amount to war crimes, particularly against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
The complaint outlines serious charges, including the use of starvation as a warfare method and causing significant suffering or injury to civilians. These accusations are grounded in the UK’s Geneva Conventions Act 1957 and the International Criminal Court Act 2001.
According to the complaint, there is “clear and convincing evidence” that the official, who holds dual British-Israeli citizenship, played a crucial role in supporting the blockade of essential supplies such as food, water, electricity, fuel, and medical aid to Gaza. ICJP accuses the official of involvement in attacks on food sources, humanitarian aid organizations, and medical facilities. Furthermore, the complaint suggests the official knowingly provided cover for illegal acts perpetrated by the Israeli government and military, exacerbating civilian suffering.
“It also shows evidence alleging that the individual provided cover for illegal acts carried out by the Israeli government and military, knowing that doing so would cause those acts to continue,” the ICJP said.
The ICJP’s submission includes numerous statements and documents regarding the official’s alleged accessory liability. These statements are categorized into three broad divisions: delegitimization of the UN humanitarian aid agency UNRWA, hate speech targeting Palestinians and Muslims, and incitement of unlawful attacks on medical facilities and professionals.
The complaint comprises testimonies from nineteen doctors who have served in Gaza since October 2023, corroborating the use of starvation as a weapon, alongside documented evidence from various sources, including UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk, Oxfam, and Human Rights Watch.
This latest complaint follows two prior submissions made to Scotland Yard in January 2024 and May 2024 against UK officials over alleged complicity in Gaza-related war crimes.
As the investigation unfolds, the ex-government official could face seven counts of serious international law violations if legal proceedings proceed.
This follows a submission made in December last year calling for the UK government to stop granting licenses for weapons exports to Israel, and arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court for top Israeli officials as Israel’s position on Gaza and its ongoing operations come under international scrutiny.
