UK petition calling for inquiry into complicity in Israel’s Gaza genocide surpasses 100,000 signatures

A petition calling for a public inquiry into Britain’s alleged complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza has gathered more than 100,000 signatures, triggering a requirement for Parliament to consider the issue for debate. The petition, which reached the threshold on Monday, calls on the UK government to launch an independent inquiry into any British involvement in Israeli operations in Gaza since October 2023. It specifically seeks an investigation into the sale, supply and use of weapons, the use of Royal Air Force (RAF) bases and intelligence gathered during RAF surveillance flights.

“We want the UK Government to launch an inquiry into any British involvement in Israeli operations in Gaza, including the sale, supply or use of weapons, surveillance aircraft and Royal Air Force bases. We believe the UK has played a vital role in Israeli military operations in Gaza,” the petition states. It calls for an inquiry with the power to question government ministers and officials involved in decision-making, particularly regarding arms supplied to Israel, the use of RAF bases, intelligence collected during RAF flights and legal advice sought by the government on whether genocide has taken place in Gaza.

The petition was launched by Jennifer Forbes, chair of the executive committee of Your Party, a left-wing political party established by former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and other left-wing figures. “We are not going away until we get this inquiry. We want the truth, and we want justice,” Corbyn wrote on US social media company X on Monday.