Britain’s reckoning: Corbyn’s Gaza Tribunal is underway

An independent tribunal into British collusion in Israel’s genocide in Gaza begins today. Convened by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Gaza Tribunal will hear from esteemed legal experts, survivors and medics. You can watch live here.

Among these will be certified legend and UN rapporteur on Gaza Francesca Albanese. On the tribunal’s website, Corbyn said:

Just like Iraq, the government is doing everything it can to protect itself from scrutiny. Just like Iraq, it will not succeed in its attempts to suffocate the truth. We will uncover the full scale of British complicity in genocide – and we will bring about justice for the people of Palestine.

Expert voices at the Gaza Tribunal

In June, Corbyn attempted to introduced a bill for an inquiry into parliament. This was rejected.

Corbyn told the Morning Star Wednesday:

The Bill had the support of more than 50 MPs, alongside numerous human rights organisations. So what did the government do? It blocked it.

But the independent tribunal will go ahead.

Questions will be asked about Britain’s legal obligations and the nature of the government’s collusion in genocide.

Palestinian journalist Abubaker Abed is set to appear, as well as former civil servant and whistleblower Mark Smith. Independent journalist Matt Kennard with discuss UK surveillance flights over Gaza.

You can read the full running order for the tribunal via the Peace and Justice Project website.

Ongoing violence

The tribunal gets underway as Israel continues to assault Gaza City.  Tanks and soldiers have pushed further into the neighbourhood of Sheikh Radwan.

A local woman named Zakeya Sami told Reuters:

Sheikh Radwan is being burnt upside-down. The occupation destroyed houses, burnt tents, and drones played audio messages ordering people to leave the area. If the takeover of Gaza City isn’t stopped, we might die, and we are not going to forgive anyone who stands and watches without doing anything to prevent our death.

The Gaza Tribunal will continue into Friday with the final session on Britain’s role in Gaza opening at 14.30pm.

You can watch it live below: