A prominent British human rights lawyer, Michael Mansfield QC, is set to submit a war crimes complaint against 10 individuals who have served in the Israeli military in Gaza to the Metropolitan Police. The complaint, which has been prepared over six months by a team of UK lawyers and researchers based in The Hague, includes allegations of targeted killings of civilians and aid workers, as well as attacks on civilian areas including hospitals. The complaint also implicates suspects in coordinated attacks on protected sites like historic and religious locations, as well as the forced displacement of civilians.
For legal reasons, the names of the suspects, who include individuals at officer levels, and the full report are not being disclosed to the public. Israel has consistently denied accusations of war crimes during its operations in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of over 50,000 people, predominantly civilians. This military campaign was a response to Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to over 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 250 individuals.
Mansfield, known for his work on high-profile cases like the Grenfell Tower fire and the Stephen Lawrence case, argued that it is the legal obligation of British nationals to not collude with crimes committed in Palestine. He emphasized that while the behavior of foreign governments might not be controllable, British nationals must not partake in or support criminal activities.
The report, submitted on behalf of the Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the British-based Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), outlines a detailed account of the alleged offenses within the Gaza territory between October 2023 and May 2024. It posits that each act attributed to the 10 suspects, some of whom are dual nationals, constitutes a war crime or a crime against humanity.
Testimonies from witnesses, including from medical facilities, described distressing scenes of violence against the dead and destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals. Sean Summerfield, a barrister involved in compiling the dossier, argued that the evidence presented, which draws from open-source materials and direct testimony, paints a compelling picture of the alleged crimes.
The team behind the report advocates for legal actions against those implicated, envisioning scenarios where individuals might face prosecution at the Old Bailey. The report underscores Britain’s legal obligation under international treaties to investigate and prosecute those accused of “core international crimes.”
Raji Sourani, director of the PCHR, emphasized the gravity of the situation, calling for action based on the evidence provided. Paul Heron, legal director of the PILC, underscored the significance of the report, arguing against the commission of war crimes in the name of the British people.
Legal and human rights experts have expressed their support through a letter urging the war crimes team to thoroughly investigate the allegations.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/apr/07/ten-britons-accused-of-committing-war-crimes-while-fighting-for-israel-in-gaza
