UK must probe Brits committing war crimes in Gaza as part of Israel army

The Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) has called on the UK’s Counterterrorism and Major Crime Division, SO15, to investigate the enlistment of reservist soldiers with dual British-Israeli nationality who join the Israeli military units to participate in the war waged against civilians in the Gaza Strip.

AOHR UK highlighted that numerous media reports have spoken about Britons joining the Israeli army since Tel Aviv announced the call-up of reserve soldiers from all over the world to participate in military operations against the Gaza Strip.

Many of these individuals’ names have been published in the media, it added, stating they are going to participate in military operations despite clear evidence that Israel has been committing war crimes since 7 October.

AOHR UK stressed that what encouraged these individuals to travel and participate in these crimes, was the stance of the British government and statements made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other government ministers, “which gave the green light to the Israeli government to do everything without any red lines in its war on the Gaza Strip.”

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While the police has been preoccupied with anti-war demonstrations, the government “has allowed the flow of lethal weapons to Israel and has not warned those travelling to Israel to participate in the fighting that they are violating the law,” the rights group explained.

“It is infuriating and condemnable that a force from the British police raided the home of Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta in the UK, terrifying his wife and three children, while Abu Sitta plays his humanitarian role in saving hundreds of the wounded arriving at the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza,” it added. According to Abu Sitta, the police came to ask, “Who paid for the travel ticket and with which charity I work?” Abu Sitta wondered, “Isn’t my family’s concern for me because of the bombings enough without the police adding to their worries?”

British counter terrorism police has showed up at my house in the UK and harrased my family.

— Ghassan Abu Sitta (@GhassanAbuSitt1) October 16, 2023

AOHR UK emphasised that law enforcement should have raided the homes of those intending to travel to fight with an army committing war crimes.”We urge law enforcement agencies in the UK, across Europe, and worldwide to implement legal provisions criminalising anyone who commits, participates in, or belongs to a formation that commits these crimes. It is the duty of these agencies to pursue anyone who has travelled or tries to travel to participate with the occupation forces in the extermination of the residents of the Gaza Strip,” it said.