Israel is currently at the ICJ facing credible charges of genocide. The British government has provided material and diplomatic support throughout Israel's war on Gaza. It has not provided any legal justification for this support. 

The government can ask the Attorney General's Office (AGO) for legal advice on key matters including foreign policy actions. Given that Israel is subject to credible charges of war crimes and possibly genocide, I want any legal advice regarding the government's support of Israel to be made public.

I have submitted a freedom of information request and it has been refused. They claim it is not in the public interest: help me prove them wrong!

When I first submitted my FOI request, I mentioned both military and diplomatic support the UK provides Israel. This includes public statements by officials, votes against a ceasefire at the United Nations, and the deployment of overt and covert military force in regional bases. I argued this outweighs the convention that government be allowed secret legal advice on important matters.

Their replied said, "While recognising that there is a public interest in citizens knowing whether matters have been considered with the benefit of sound legal advice, in the circumstances of this case, this public interest does not outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the Convention."

This wasn't good enough. I appealed pointing out too little consideration had been given to the possibility of complicity with war crimes and genocide.

They replied "Whilst we recognise the additional matters raised in your request for an internal review, in the circumstances of this case, we maintain there is a strong public interest in not disclosing this information."

This is still not good enough.

Many across the UK have protested against Israel's war and the complicity of our government. Meanwhile, Westminster has ignored the public.

The government wants to avoid demonstrating the legality of its actions in the Middle East. Given the ongoing ICJ case, and the ICC and Met investigations, the public deserves access to the full facts.