A CAMPAIGN has been launched to demand that the UK Government monitor and investigate Brits who have served in the IDF during the genocide in Gaza.
It comes after the news organisation Declassified UK revealed earlier this year that over 2000 Brits have fought for Israel since October 2023.
The information was obtained via a Freedom of Information request issued to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) by lawyer Elad Man from Hatzlacha, an NGO.
The data showed that 1686 soldiers were British-Israelis and a further 383 had British, Israeli and another nationality.
But none have been prosecuted, with no outstanding investigations either after the London Metropolitan Police’s war crime unit recently announced it will not be opening an investigation into 10 Brits accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity while fighting in Gaza.
As part of the campaign, Declassified UK and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians have launched an open campaign letter – already signed by over 60 prominent figures, including leading lawyers and genocide scholars as well as British military veterans and politicians.
Addressed to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, it calls for a disclosure requirement for those serving in the IDF when arriving in the UK as well as independent investigations and prosecutions.
“Nobody wants to live next to a potential war criminal – not least members of the Palestinian community in the UK who have family or friends who have been subjected to war crimes,” the letter reads.
“In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, who oversaw IDF operations in Gaza.”
It goes on: “Meanwhile, in January 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found “plausible” evidence that genocide has taken place in Gaza, and the UN Commission of Inquiry (UN COI) concluded that “Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza strip” and that “the Israeli authorities have committed the crime against humanity of extermination in the Gaza Strip”.
“In light of the opinions of the ICC, the ICJ and the UN COI, the UK government must immediately implement the above measures in order to ensure sufficient scrutiny of IDF soldiers returning to the UK, in the interests of international and domestic law, transparency, and public safety.”
Here is a link to the open letter, with people urged to sign.
