ICJP questions UK stance on Britons fighting in Israel and Palestine

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) is seeking immediate clarity on the UK government's stance regarding Britons participating in the war in Israel and Palestine.

In a letter to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Thursday, the ICJP said it was writing “in light of the catastrophic situation current unfolding in Gaza, with clear evidence that war crimes and crimes against humanity may already have been committed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and the real risk that further mass atrocity crimes may be imminent.”

It added that the UK government has made it clear that British citizens who travel to fight in Ukraine could be committing a criminal offence. 

“It is unclear to us whether British citizens going to fight in Israel or Gaza would face similar sanctions. ICJP has asked the Foreign Office to clarify whether it is a criminal offence for Britons to fight in the current conflict,” the letter said.

It also asked “whether the government has issued any warnings to people wishing to go to Israel or Gaza about potential criminal liability they could face for complicity in mass atrocity crimes.”