**UK Police to Investigate Britons Accused of War Crimes in Gaza**
The Metropolitan Police has announced that it will investigate 10 British nationals accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity while serving with Israel‘s military forces in Gaza. The decision comes after a 240-page dossier was submitted to the Met War Crimes Team by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Public Interest Law Centre.
According to the summary of the report, the British citizens are accused of involvement in the forced displacement of civilians and coordinated assaults on protected sites, including hospitals. They allegedly carried out “indiscriminate” attacks on civilian areas and “targeted killings” of civilians and humanitarian workers. The offenses are said to have occurred between October 2023 and May 2024.
**Previous Denials by Israel**
Israel has previously denied similar allegations, calling a report accusing them of crimes against humanity “completely false”. The new report, however, is based on detailed evidence and accusations made against specific individuals. The British nationals accused in the report have not been publicly named, but it is alleged that some served as officers in the Israeli military while others were dual citizens of Israel.
**Calls for Investigation**
Human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield KC, who was one of the authors of the report, has called on the Met Police to “take it seriously” and investigate the allegations. He emphasized that if the individuals are proven guilty, they should be prosecuted. The Metropolitan Police statement said that the 240-page document will be assessed by specialist officers to determine if any UK-based investigations may be required.
**Background to the Conflict**
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel. The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with over 50,750 Palestinians killed and thousands more injured or displaced. The war has been marked by widespread criticism of Israel’s actions, including allegations of war crimes.
**Previous Referrals to the Met**
Since the beginning of the conflict, the Metropolitan Police has received approximately 180 referrals related to the war in Gaza. However, at this time, there are no UK-based investigations into any matters related to this particular conflict. The new report and subsequent investigation by the Met Police could mark a significant development in the handling of allegations related to the war in Gaza.
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