Petition for public inquiry into UK’s ‘complicity’ in Gaza hits 100,000 signatures

A petition calling for an independent public inquiry into Britain’s role in Israeli military operations in Gaza has passed 100,000 signatures in just over two weeks. The threshold means Parliament’s Petitions Committee will consider whether to schedule a debate, but it does not guarantee one or require the government to establish an inquiry.

Launched on 23 October by Your Party chair Jenn Forbes, the campaign followed ministers blocking a bill proposed by Jeremy Corbyn for a judge-led investigation. It calls for scrutiny of arms sales and supplies, surveillance aircraft and RAF bases, as well as intelligence, legal advice and ministerial decisions since October 2023. The government has suspended 30 arms export licences, but exempted British-made components for the F-35 programme; the UK makes about 15 per cent of each jet worldwide. The article says humanitarian monitors report more than 75,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023.