UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese has called for accountability over the British government’s participation in Israel’s genocide in Gaza. But because of the impunity Western allies have given Israel, she said:
This is a situation in which everyone loses. Because we are embracing or we have entered a lawless world.
And especially for us in the West, it’s going to bring incredibly negative consequences. Because we are those who have benefited the most from the international legal system that was created in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Francesca Albanese: UK politicians “should be investigated” over complicity in war crimes
Speaking to Declassified UK co-founder Mark Curtis, Francesca Albanese stressed that:
Western politicians have taken the violation of international law lightheartedly. And they are very wrong. So now, it’s time for them to face the consequences.
There have been many international critiques and legal calls for the prevention of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. But because Britain has disregarded these and continued to support Israel, she insisted:
I believe that the UK has violated its obligations under international law.
The reason, she asserted, is that the UK:
is aiding and assisting Israel in the commission of… a series of international wrongdoing. Hence it should be held accountable.
The responsibility of British politicians, she emphasised, “should be investigated by UK authorities” because:
there is individual liability – there’s criminal liability for complicity with international crimes
British participation in Israel’s genocide
Declassified UK has been at the forefront of revealing the British government’s participation in Israel’s genocide. In particular, it has highlighted how both the current Labour Party government and the previous Conservative Party government have used RAF Akrotiri (the unique colonial relic on occupied Cypriot land which is part of the “largest Royal Air Force base outside the United Kingdom”) to aid Israeli war criminals. In fact, the British Palestinian Committee (BPC) recently released a report calling RAF Akrotiri “a foundational asset for genocide”.
During Israel’s genocide in Gaza, RAF Akrotiri has sent bombers to Yemen, supported covert US flights to occupied Palestine, sent dozens of British warplanes to both Israel and Lebanon, and facilitated British spy flights and the passing of intelligence from officers on the ground to Israel. And as Declassified‘s Matt Kennard has insisted, these are the actions of “a country which is participating” in Israel’s genocide – “a direct participant”. Declassified has also called out the continuation of flights despite the current ceasefire in Gaza.
RAF Akrotiri’s behaviour since 2023 demonstrates Britain’s role as a junior partner to the destructive US imperialist project, alongside Israel. Kennard has even asserted that “the UK bases on Cyprus double (unofficially) as US bases”.
Imperialism is alive and well today. And it’s actively attacking international law, with the US now imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court over its arrest warrant for Israeli war criminals. The world desperately needs to resist that assault because, as Albanese says, “this is a situation in which everyone loses”.
Featured image via screengrab
