Press the ICC to prosecute British war criminals for complicity in genocide in Gaza
The Issue
The Petition
To the United Nations General Assembly
Britain has been a leading supporter for Israel’s mass murder of civilians in Gaza since 2023, mainly women, children and babies, by way of provision of diplomatic support, intelligence and weaponry. Those principally responsible within the British government for maintaining that policy and who must now be tried for their crimes include the following:
Prime ministers
Rishi Sunak, 25 October 2022 to 5 July 2024
Keir Starmer, 5 July 2024 to present
Foreign Secretaries
David Cameron, 13 November 2023 to 5 July 2024
David Lammy, 5 July 2024 to present
Secretaries of State for Defence
Grant Shapps, 31 August 2023 to 5 July 2024
John Healy, 5 July 2024 to present.
The evidence
The United Kingdom has provided significant political, military, and diplomatic support to Israel during the Gaza war. Here’s a summary of key aspects of Britain’s assistance:
1. Political & Diplomatic Support
The UK has repeatedly defended Israel’s "right to self-defence" at the UN and other international forums, often opposing calls for ceasefires or condemning Israel’s actions.
Britain abstained or voted against several UN resolutions critical of Israel, including measures demanding humanitarian pauses or investigating potential war crimes.
UK leaders, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary David Cameron, have maintained strong pro-Israel rhetoric, avoiding direct criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza.
2. Military Support
Arms Exports: The UK has licensed over £574 million in military exports to Israel since 2015, including components for fighter jets, missiles, and drones.
Intelligence & Surveillance: Reports suggest British intelligence (GCHQ) has shared surveillance data with Israel, though the government denies direct involvement in targeting.
Special Forces & Training: UK special forces have reportedly operated in the region, though details are classified. British officers have also trained Israeli counterparts.
3. Blocking Accountability
The UK government has resisted calls to suspend arms sales to Israel despite evidence of potential violations of international law.
Britain has not supported South Africa’s ICJ case accusing Israel of genocide, instead dismissing the claim.
4. Humanitarian Aid to Gaza (While Supporting Israel’s War)
The UK has provided aid to Gaza (around £100 million pledged since 2023) but continues arms exports to Israel, which critics argue undermines humanitarian efforts.
Criticism & Controversies
Legal experts and human rights groups (e.g., Amnesty International) argue UK arms sales to Israel may violate international law if used in war crimes.
Pro-Palestine protests in the UK have demanded an end to military support for Israel.
Conclusion
While the UK provides some humanitarian aid to Gaza, its political backing, military exports, and diplomatic shielding of Israel have been crucial in sustaining Israel’s military campaign.
Source: DeepSeek AI.
Appendices
1. There is wide agreement that Israel is carrying out a genocide on the Palestinians. On July 28 2025 two Israeli human rights groups, B’Tselem (The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories), and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, published reports concluding that that for nearly two years Israel has been committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. They appeal for international intervention to prevent a further loss of life. Their reports concur with those of other human rights groups, including Amnesty International, the European Center for Human Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights and Doctors Without Borders, as well as United Nations organisations, condemning Israel for carrying out acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza.
2. The UK government does not give weapons directly to Israel but rather issues licences for British companies to sell weapons. In early September 2024, the UK suspended just 30 out of the 350 military export licenses to Israel, so 320 were still operational. An attempt by Al-Haq and Global Legal Action Network (Glan), supported by Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and Amnesty International to stop the supply of 16% of parts of F35 fighters to Israel was turned down by the High Court in London in June 2025. At least 75 UK companies are involved in the production of the F-35.
Key components and subsystems made in the UK include:
Rear fuselage/tail, produced by BAE Systems in Lancashire;
Targeting lasers produced by Leonardo in Edinburgh;
Bomb release cables made by L3Harris in Brighton.
3. The Royal Air Force (RAF) conducts intelligence surveillance flights over Gaza for Israel since December 2023 using spy planes located at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. By March 2025, the UK had conducted over 500 such spy flights.
4. Out of their own mouths. In October 2023 the then Labour leader Keir Starmer when asked by LBC Radio if he thinks “siege is appropriate? Cutting off power, cutting off water?” “Israel does have that right,” he said. The following month, his then shadow foreign secretary David Lammy visited Israel for meetings with President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to offer his support. That month, Israeli warplanes blew up the heavily populated Jabaliya neighbourhood in northern Gaza, which houses the largest refugee camp in the Strip. At least 195 civilians were killed, with 120 more buried under rubble. Lammy said of this war crime that “it’s clear to me that it’s wrong to bomb a refugee camp, but clearly if there is a military objective it can be legally justifiable.”
5. David Cameron, when foreign secretary, sat on advice from Foreign Office officials in Israel and London that there was clear evidence of breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza for which the UK risked being complicit, a former Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) adviser said.
6. In August 2024, Foreign Office official Mark Smith resigned over the UK's continued arming of Israel despite its alleged breaches of international law.
7. During 2025 prosecutions of protesters in Britain for carrying out acts of minor damage are proceeding under terrorism law, which carries a sentence of imprisonment for up to fourteen years, and those expressing their support for protest have also been arrested.
Precedent for UNGA referral to the ICJ/ICC
This would not be the first time for such a referral from UNGA to an international court, an example being Britain’s criminal treatment of the population of the Chagos Islands over 50 years. On 22 June 2017 the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 71/292, in which, referring to Article 65 of the Statute of the Court, it requested the Court to render an advisory opinion on the matter. Thirty-one Member States of the United Nations and the African Union filed written statements, and ten States and the African Union filed written comments on the written statements. Twenty‑one States and the African Union participated in the oral proceedings, which took place from 3 to 6 September 2018. In its Advisory Opinion delivered on 25 February 2019, the Court concluded that:
“the process of decolonization of Mauritius was not lawfully completed when that country acceded to independence” and that “the United Kingdom is under an obligation to bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible”.
133
The Issue
The Petition
To the United Nations General Assembly
Britain has been a leading supporter for Israel’s mass murder of civilians in Gaza since 2023, mainly women, children and babies, by way of provision of diplomatic support, intelligence and weaponry. Those principally responsible within the British government for maintaining that policy and who must now be tried for their crimes include the following:
Prime ministers
Rishi Sunak, 25 October 2022 to 5 July 2024
Keir Starmer, 5 July 2024 to present
Foreign Secretaries
David Cameron, 13 November 2023 to 5 July 2024
David Lammy, 5 July 2024 to present
Secretaries of State for Defence
Grant Shapps, 31 August 2023 to 5 July 2024
John Healy, 5 July 2024 to present.
The evidence
The United Kingdom has provided significant political, military, and diplomatic support to Israel during the Gaza war. Here’s a summary of key aspects of Britain’s assistance:
1. Political & Diplomatic Support
The UK has repeatedly defended Israel’s "right to self-defence" at the UN and other international forums, often opposing calls for ceasefires or condemning Israel’s actions.
Britain abstained or voted against several UN resolutions critical of Israel, including measures demanding humanitarian pauses or investigating potential war crimes.
UK leaders, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary David Cameron, have maintained strong pro-Israel rhetoric, avoiding direct criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza.
2. Military Support
Arms Exports: The UK has licensed over £574 million in military exports to Israel since 2015, including components for fighter jets, missiles, and drones.
Intelligence & Surveillance: Reports suggest British intelligence (GCHQ) has shared surveillance data with Israel, though the government denies direct involvement in targeting.
Special Forces & Training: UK special forces have reportedly operated in the region, though details are classified. British officers have also trained Israeli counterparts.
3. Blocking Accountability
The UK government has resisted calls to suspend arms sales to Israel despite evidence of potential violations of international law.
Britain has not supported South Africa’s ICJ case accusing Israel of genocide, instead dismissing the claim.
4. Humanitarian Aid to Gaza (While Supporting Israel’s War)
The UK has provided aid to Gaza (around £100 million pledged since 2023) but continues arms exports to Israel, which critics argue undermines humanitarian efforts.
Criticism & Controversies
Legal experts and human rights groups (e.g., Amnesty International) argue UK arms sales to Israel may violate international law if used in war crimes.
Pro-Palestine protests in the UK have demanded an end to military support for Israel.
Conclusion
While the UK provides some humanitarian aid to Gaza, its political backing, military exports, and diplomatic shielding of Israel have been crucial in sustaining Israel’s military campaign.
Source: DeepSeek AI.
Appendices
1. There is wide agreement that Israel is carrying out a genocide on the Palestinians. On July 28 2025 two Israeli human rights groups, B’Tselem (The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories), and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, published reports concluding that that for nearly two years Israel has been committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. They appeal for international intervention to prevent a further loss of life. Their reports concur with those of other human rights groups, including Amnesty International, the European Center for Human Rights, the International Federation for Human Rights and Doctors Without Borders, as well as United Nations organisations, condemning Israel for carrying out acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza.
2. The UK government does not give weapons directly to Israel but rather issues licences for British companies to sell weapons. In early September 2024, the UK suspended just 30 out of the 350 military export licenses to Israel, so 320 were still operational. An attempt by Al-Haq and Global Legal Action Network (Glan), supported by Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and Amnesty International to stop the supply of 16% of parts of F35 fighters to Israel was turned down by the High Court in London in June 2025. At least 75 UK companies are involved in the production of the F-35.
Key components and subsystems made in the UK include:
Rear fuselage/tail, produced by BAE Systems in Lancashire;
Targeting lasers produced by Leonardo in Edinburgh;
Bomb release cables made by L3Harris in Brighton.
3. The Royal Air Force (RAF) conducts intelligence surveillance flights over Gaza for Israel since December 2023 using spy planes located at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. By March 2025, the UK had conducted over 500 such spy flights.
4. Out of their own mouths. In October 2023 the then Labour leader Keir Starmer when asked by LBC Radio if he thinks “siege is appropriate? Cutting off power, cutting off water?” “Israel does have that right,” he said. The following month, his then shadow foreign secretary David Lammy visited Israel for meetings with President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to offer his support. That month, Israeli warplanes blew up the heavily populated Jabaliya neighbourhood in northern Gaza, which houses the largest refugee camp in the Strip. At least 195 civilians were killed, with 120 more buried under rubble. Lammy said of this war crime that “it’s clear to me that it’s wrong to bomb a refugee camp, but clearly if there is a military objective it can be legally justifiable.”
5. David Cameron, when foreign secretary, sat on advice from Foreign Office officials in Israel and London that there was clear evidence of breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza for which the UK risked being complicit, a former Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) adviser said.
6. In August 2024, Foreign Office official Mark Smith resigned over the UK's continued arming of Israel despite its alleged breaches of international law.
7. During 2025 prosecutions of protesters in Britain for carrying out acts of minor damage are proceeding under terrorism law, which carries a sentence of imprisonment for up to fourteen years, and those expressing their support for protest have also been arrested.
Precedent for UNGA referral to the ICJ/ICC
This would not be the first time for such a referral from UNGA to an international court, an example being Britain’s criminal treatment of the population of the Chagos Islands over 50 years. On 22 June 2017 the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 71/292, in which, referring to Article 65 of the Statute of the Court, it requested the Court to render an advisory opinion on the matter. Thirty-one Member States of the United Nations and the African Union filed written statements, and ten States and the African Union filed written comments on the written statements. Twenty‑one States and the African Union participated in the oral proceedings, which took place from 3 to 6 September 2018. In its Advisory Opinion delivered on 25 February 2019, the Court concluded that:
“the process of decolonization of Mauritius was not lawfully completed when that country acceded to independence” and that “the United Kingdom is under an obligation to bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible”.
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 30 July 2025