Gaza Tribunal Co-Chairs Jeremy Corbyn, Neve Gordon & Shahd Hammouri on U.K. Complicity in Genocide

New Prime Minister's Apology [0:05]

• Andy Burnham, Britain's new prime minister, apologized for the Labour Party's initial stance on Gaza, admitting they "didn't get it right."
• He acknowledged the response "has too often not been good enough" and stated the need to "do better."

• "I know many people feel that at the start of Israel's military action in Gaza, my party didn't get it right, and I am sorry about that."

Burnham's Policy Stance [0:31]

• Burnham announced steps taken, including recognizing the Palestinian state, imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers and violent settlers.
• He supports restrictions on arms licenses to prevent British weapons from being used in Gaza or the West Bank.

• "Yes, we have taken some important steps. These include recognizing the Palestinian state, placing sanctions on Israeli ministers, and imposing waves of sanctions on violent settlers, and the organizations that support them."

Criticism of the Apology [1:12]

• MP Jeremy Corbyn criticized Burnham's statement, calling it "not really an apology" and arguing it doesn't equate to "we got it wrong."
• Corbyn highlighted the continued sale of parts for F-35 jets used in Gaza and the insufficient sanctions on companies involved with settlements.

• "Well, it isn't really an apology. What it says is, we got it wrong, which isn't quite the same thing."

Criminalization of Activists [2:01]

• Corbyn questioned the criminalization of peaceful protesters in Britain, noting thousands arrested for supporting groups like Palestine Action.
• He described the situation as "absurd," where non-violent direct action is treated as terrorism, with elderly individuals facing charges.

• "If we are going to be serious about supporting the Palestinian people and the genocide they're still going through, we would also stop allowing Israel to use the Royal Air Force Base in Akrotiri, we'd stop the sharing of security information with Israel, we would isolate Israel's military actions, all of which are directed against the Palestinian people."

The Gaza Tribunal and its Findings [4:10]

• The Gaza Tribunal concluded the British government was complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza through authorizing military, economic, and political support.
• The tribunal was held amidst a crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists.

• "We want another inquiry, but this time with more teeth, to deal with the connivance of people in misleading information, selling weapons which have been used to kill people."

Criminalization of Palestine Action [5:25]

• Professor Niamh Gordon explained the criminalization of Palestine Action activists, who engage in direct action to stop weapon transfers.
• She detailed how activists are prosecuted as terrorists for property offenses, and their motivations are not allowed in court.

• "And anyone that supports them, and that's the 3,000 and somewhat retired people that you mentioned, can also be sentenced to jail."

Contempt Charges Against Lawyer [7:30]

• Rajiv Menon Casey, a lawyer for Palestine Action activists, faces contempt charges for his closing speech, accused of misleading the jury.
• He argued that judges are not allowing defense lawyers to present context or motivations for their clients' actions.

• "It was an enormous privilege for me to represent Charlotte Head together with Simon and Kate. We fight on for her against the draconian sentence that she received from the very judge who instigated the proceedings against me."

Civil Servants' Testimony [10:08]

• Shahad Hamoudi discussed civil servants facing pressure to approve arms sales despite concerns about complicity in genocide.
• Mark Smith, a former Foreign Office official, testified that he was asked to alter reports to make arms sales "sound less bad."

• "What I witnessed while working on that report was profoundly concerning. While I was working on the report, I was routinely asked to change the report."

Attacks on Healthcare in Gaza [12:45]

• Dr. Victoria Rose testified about operating on severely injured children daily in Gaza, highlighting the dire conditions.
• Professor Niamh Gordon described Israel's systematic destruction of Gaza's healthcare system, including hospitals and medical workers.

• "So we have 1,700 health workers that were killed in the Gaza Strip. And that is about three times more than the level of civilians."

Protest and Political Shift [14:34]

• Jeremy Corbyn noted the growing public support for Palestine in Britain and the US, influencing political discourse.
• He stated that while Parliament is behind the curve, change is occurring due to public pressure and protests.

• "Protest works. It can be very frustrating going on a march. You think, well, what have I done? I've just been on a march."

Call for Inquiry and Accountability [16:04]

• The authors sent their book and tribunal findings to Prime Minister Burnham, urging him to have the courage to set up a government-sponsored public inquiry.
• They aim to expose the paradoxes within the English legal and democratic systems.

• "And hoping that with that we can bring forward change little by little as per the fact that the British people are more than ever, as per the American people, aware of what is happening and aware of a very simple fact."

Final Thoughts on Foreign Influence [17:00]

• Shahad Hamoudi expressed doubt that Burnham is listening but emphasized the need to highlight the legal and democratic paradoxes.
• She stressed that people in the region should not be controlled by foreign entities and have the right to live equally.

• "The US, UK should have never been in West Asia. It's an area for its people, not for the plunder and exploitation of foreigners."