A war crimes complaint has been filed against 10 British nationals who fought alongside Israel’s army in Gaza, according to UK and international lawyers. The complaint, submitted to London’s Metropolitan Police, accuses them of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing conflict in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The 240-page dossier was compiled by prominent human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield and other legal experts in The Hague. It was submitted on Monday on behalf of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the British-based Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), both of which represent Palestinians in Gaza and the UK. The accused are alleged to have participated in acts of extermination, displacement, and murder.
The report, which has not been made public, calls for an urgent investigation into the alleged targeted killings of civilians and aid workers, as reported by several media outlets. It includes detailed and well-researched evidence of the suspects’ involvement in these crimes. The dossier identifies 10 individuals, some of whom hold Israeli citizenship, though their names have not been disclosed.
Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull, reporting from Scotland Yard in London, stated that the report has not been released publicly due to legal reasons. According to The Guardian, the complaint accuses the suspects of “coordinated attacks on protected sites, including historic monuments and religious sites, and forced transfer and displacement of civilians.”
Sean Summerfield, a lawyer involved in compiling the dossier, told The Guardian that the evidence was based on open-source information and witness testimony, which together present a “compelling” case. Speaking to reporters outside the police headquarters, Mansfield emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “We are standing at the brink of the collapse of the rule of order because certain states have taken it upon themselves … to act with impunity.”
In an interview with the US news site Zeteo, Mansfield added that the allegations include “mass killing, mass destruction, and mass displacement.” He stressed that the UK has a legal obligation under international law to investigate and prosecute those accused of committing such crimes.
When questioned about whether the British government should prohibit its nationals from serving in the Israeli military, Mansfield responded, “It would be possible for the government to indicate, as they have on other occasions, that it would be unlawful to join an army that in its view is conducting an unlawful war.”
Mansfield also criticised the lack of action by governments worldwide, noting that many nations are “not doing anything” and instead are supporting Israel’s government. He added that this inaction prompted the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Public Interest Law Centre to push the UK government into action.
Since Israel resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, ending a brief ceasefire with Hamas, it has intensified its military campaign, killing over 1,300 people, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The war, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of more than 50,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children.
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