UK’s stance on Israel helping to ‘erode’ international law, Ecuador’s former FM says
Guillaume Long, adviser at The Hague Group and Ecuador’s former foreign minister, said at the Corbyn-led inquiry into alleged British complicity in Israeli war crimes that the UK has acted against Russia, China, Belarus, Syria and other states through financial and trade sanctions, “but not against Israel, a state currently committing genocide”.
He said this contradicts the UK’s commitments to international law.
While the primary victims of British policy are the Palestinian people, international law is also at risk, he said.
“What the UK is doing by ignoring obligations to international law is contributing to the erosion of international law and the erosion of the global social contract,” he said. The UK is in “many regards complicit”, he noted, adding that the country’s own credibility was now in question.
The Hague Group was formed on January 31 when eight nations – Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa – decided to take coordinated legal and diplomatic measures against Israel’s violations of international law.
Corbyn-led Gaza tribunal wraps up in London
For several minutes, Professor Neve Gordon, one of the event’s chairs, read out a long list of the findings.
“We know that the UK government is listening to Israel. We know that the UK government has not opened its doors to the Palestinians. The doors are locked to them but open to the Israelis,” the professor of international law and human rights at Queen Mary University of London said.
“We have heard that despite its legal obligations, the UK government has … been supporting Israeli military operations. “Ultimately, we have heard about how a politics of deception has taken over the UK government and all of its handling of Israel.”
Organisers will now write a report based on the testimonies and submit it to the UK government, said Gordon, adding he is confident that ultimately “the truth will be revealed and justice will prevail”.
‘Blood on their hands, accountability is coming’
Shahd Hammouri, a lecturer in international law and legal theory, another chair, has issued her closing statements.
“We live in a world that says that we do have laws. In England, we say this country abides by international humanitarian law. And yet, we forget that there is a twist there of absolute hypocrisy. How do you commit a livestream genocide and still [say] they are the barbarians, not us?” said Hammouri.
“We heard horrifying testimonies confirming and affirming the worst that we can ever imagine – accounts that bring to mind untold sorrow.
“Our job is to ensure truth comes in the present, that accountability doesn’t arrive too late. We have seen the evidence, the blood on their hands, accountability is coming. We’ve given history a repository of how British complicity has been designed.”
UK urged to implement measures over Israel’s war on Gaza
At the Jeremy Corbyn-led unofficial inquiry into alleged British complicity in Israeli war crimes, Tayab Ali, head of the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, listed 12 recommendations for the UK:
- Impose a total arms embargo on Israel
- End all surveillance flights and intelligence cooperation with Israel
- Suspend military intelligence and political links with Israel entirely
- Suspend trade agreements and impose a ban on products from illegal settlements
- Penalise companies and charities complicit in Israel’s illegal occupation
- Sanction senior members of the Israeli establishment
- Prevent UK citizens from travelling to Israel to join the army
- Investigate and prosecute citizens involved in Israeli war crimes
- Defend the independence of the ICC prosecutor
- Support UN processes to force advisory opinion
- Expand humanitarian support for Gaza
- Lead international efforts to enforce accountability – including adhering to ICC arrest warrants
“Instead, Britain has done precisely the opposite,” he said.
