Over 100k sign petition demanding inquiry into UK involvement in Gaza genocide
A parliamentary debate on the matter is now likely to be triggered
A petition demanding an inquiry into the UK’s role in the Gaza genocide has now reached over 100,000 signatures.
This means a debate on the issue is now likely to be triggered in Parliament.
Chair of Your Party, Jennifer Forbes, launched the petition after former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote to Prime Minister Andy Burnham in July calling on him to back his Private Members’ Bill for a Chilcot-style inquiry into the UK’s complicity in Gaza.
In October, Burnham rejected Corbyn’s call for an inquiry.
The petition calls for an investigation “into any British involvement in Israeli operations in Gaza, including the sale, supply or use of weapons, surveillance aircraft and Royal Air Force bases”.
All petitions on the official parliament website that reach 10,000 signatures receive a response from the government.
Ones that hit 100,000 signatures almost always trigger a debate in parliament.
The petition, which was launched just two weeks ago, has 101,550 signatories at the time of writing.
Commenting on the petition, Corbyn told The National newspaper: “One hundred thousand people have signed this petition because they want the truth about Britain’s complicity in genocide. They deserve answers, and the Palestinian people deserve justice.”
He added: “What weapons were supplied to Israel? What intelligence was gathered over Gaza, and how was it used? What legal advice did ministers receive, and what decisions did they take?
“Parliament must now make time for this debate. But our demand remains a fully independent public inquiry with the power to question those responsible and expose the full extent of Britain’s involvement.”
Corbyn continued: “One day, there will be an inquiry. Does this government want to be remembered for getting in the way? It’s not complicated: if the government had nothing to hide, then it would not block our efforts to expose the truth.”
“Delaying scrutiny will not make questions of complicity disappear. This issue is not going away – and we are not going anywhere until we have exposed the truth.”
In a post on X, Corbyn shared a letter he has sent to the Petitions Committee urging them to arrange a parliamentary debate on the matter as soon as possible.
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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