Key Takeaways
- Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham apologized for the Labour Party’s early response to Israel’s war in Gaza but stopped short of ending arms sales or fully sanctioning settlement‑linked trade.
- Critics, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, argue the apology is insufficient and point to ongoing criminalization of peaceful pro‑Palestinian protesters in the UK.
- The independent Gaza Tribunal concluded that the UK government is complicit in Israel’s genocide through military, economic and political support, a finding expanded in the co‑authored book The Gaza Tribunal: Britain’s Complicity in Genocide.
- Testimonies revealed systematic efforts within the Foreign Office to downplay the legal risks of arms exports, and civil servants face retaliation for refusing to facilitate those sales.
- Medical and humanitarian witnesses described devastating attacks on Gaza’s health system, with hospitals destroyed, medical supplies blocked, and health workers killed or detained.
- Legal actions against defense lawyers (e.g., Rajiv Menon KC) and the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group illustrate a broader pattern of suppressing dissent and limiting fair trial rights.
- The speakers urge a government‑sponsored public inquiry, de‑proscribing Palestine Action, halting arms transfers, and ending UK support for actions that undermine a two‑state solution.
Andy Burnham’s Apology and Policy Stance
Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged that the Labour Party’s early response to Israel’s military action in Gaza was inadequate and expressed regret. He highlighted steps already taken—recognizing Palestinian statehood, imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers and violent settlers, and restricting arms licences to prevent British weapons from reaching the IDF. However, Burnham admitted the UK was slow to call for a ceasefire and urged further measures, including additional sanctions and a ban on trade with illegal settlements, to keep the two‑state solution viable.
Jeremy Corbyn’s Critique of the Apology
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn contended that Burnham’s statement falls short of a genuine apology, describing it as an admission of error without concrete corrective action. Corbyn argued that if UK‑sold weapons cannot be used to kill Palestinians, then all arms trade with Israel must cease, especially components for F‑35 jets. He also criticised the simultaneous sanctioning of settlement goods while allowing companies that service those settlements to continue supplying weapons, and highlighted the criminalisation of non‑violent protesters under terrorism legislation.
Criminalisation of Pro‑Palestinian Activists
Since July 2024, British police have arrested over 3,000 individuals for expressing support for Palestine Action, a group the government designated a terrorist organisation in July 2025, exposing supporters to up to 14 years imprisonment. Corbyn noted that many arrestees are elderly, non‑violent demonstrators holding placards, and argued that imprisoning peaceful protesters to make room for “serious criminals” reveals an authoritarian drift. He called for reform of the protest‑related provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Jeremy Corbyn’s Private Member’s Bill
Corbyn introduced a private member’s bill demanding an open inquiry into UK decision‑making regarding Gaza, weapons exports, and the use of RAF bases. Although the bill passed its first reading, it was blocked before substantive debate. Corbyn plans to re‑introduce it in the new parliamentary session (September 11) and hopes to secure a full debate, drawing a parallel to the Iraq War inquiry led by Sir John Chilcot.
Open Letter to the Prime Minister
Neve Gordon described an open letter—signed by dozens of scholars and practitioners—urging Burnham to translate his acknowledgement of wrongdoing into action. The letter calls for de‑proscription of Palestine Action, an end to the criminalisation of activists, and a halt to arms transfers that facilitate alleged genocide. Gordon stressed that mere discourse without policy change renders the apology hollow.
The Rajiv Menon KC Contempt Case
The transcript highlighted the case of barrister Rajiv Menon KC, held in contempt of court for attempting to explain the motivations of Palestine Action activists during trial. Gordon argued that the court barred defendants from contextualising their conduct, effectively preventing a fair defence. Menon’s possible debarment exemplifies a broader trend where legal professionals are penalised for advocating clients accused of property damage linked to anti‑arms‑trade protests.
Testimony of Foreign Office Official Mark Smith
Mark Smith, a former lead official on the UK arms export licensing report, testified that he was repeatedly pressured to alter the report to “sound less bad,” omitting key facts about legal compliance. He described a culture within the Foreign Office where controversial discussions about arms sales occur off‑record, never reaching judicial scrutiny. Smith’s resignation underscored internal dissent over complicity in potential violations of international law.
Civil Service Reprisals and Ethical Dilemmas
Shahd Hammouri explained that civil servants who objected to facilitating arms sales faced a stark choice: violate their conscience and remain employed, or resign. She likened the situation to the Nuremberg trials, where obeying unlawful orders rendered individuals complicit. The suppression of internal dissent, she argued, reveals how democratic norms are eroded when state interests override legal and moral obligations.
Humanitarian Testimony: Dr. Victoria Rose
Dr. Victoria Rose, a plastic surgeon who has worked in Gaza since 2019, recounted a single day in May 2025 operating on six children with severe burns and blast injuries, including amputations. She emphasized that Gaza’s 36 hospitals were repeatedly bombed, deprived of medicine and fuel, and that the destruction of the health system constitutes a systematic assault amounting to weapons of mass destruction in its reverberating impact.
Attacks on Gaza’s Health System and Workers
Neve Gordon detailed that over 900 attacks on medical units have occurred, with 1,700 health workers killed—three times the civilian casualty rate. Many doctors and medics have disappeared into Israeli detention, where reports of torture and rape emerge. Gordon criticised the UK’s tendency to examine each attack in isolation, looking for alleged combatant hiding places, rather than recognizing the pattern of deliberate dismantling of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.
Protest Impact and Parliamentary Shift
Corbyn acknowledged that while protest alone cannot halt the violence, it has shifted political discourse: mass demonstrations (approaching two million participants) have compelled Labour MPs to use the term “ceasefire” in Parliament. He urged continued solidarity, noting that the UK government’s responsiveness is driven by electoral pressure rather than moral conviction, and called for a government‑sponsored public inquiry into Britain’s role in Gaza.
Final Reflections on Regional Sovereignty
Shahd Hammouri concluded that genuine UK remorse must translate into ending support for US‑led actions that destabilise West Asia, and recognising the right of regional peoples to live free from foreign control. She expressed scepticism that Burnham will act meaningfully but affirmed that presenting evidence—through the tribunal, the book, and ongoing activism—will gradually force accountability.
Closing Remarks
The discussion closed with gratitude to the guests and a reminder of the upcoming screenings of Steal This Story, Please! at the Curzon Cinema. The participants stressed that the tribunal’s findings, the book, and the ongoing legal and protest struggles constitute a vital component of the broader effort to end UK complicity in Gaza’s suffering.