UK allowing Israel to 'mark own homework' over war crimes scrutiny, MP says

A prominent MP has raised concerns that the UK government is allowing Israel to “mark their own homework” when it comes to compliance with international humanitarian law in Gaza, Middle East Eye can report.

In a letter sent to Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell on Wednesday, and seen exclusively by MEE, Brendan O'Hara MP questioned which organisations and charities have been providing evidence to the government regarding Israel's legal compliance.

In particular, O'Hara, the Scottish National Party's spokesperson on foreign affairs, said he was concerned that the UK "takes confidence in Israel's compliance with IHL [international humanitarian law] based on the mere presence of lawyers embedded with the Israeli army. 

"While internal legal scrutiny within military operations is acknowledged as important… it is essential that compliance with [international humanitarian law] is scrutinised by an accepted and impartial international body such as the UN or the ICC," he wrote.

READ MORE: UK allowing Israel to 'mark own homework' over war crimes scrutiny, MP says