LONDON —

Jeremy Corbyn’s inquiry has shifted the debate back onto the government, forcing ministers to confront allegations of complicity in Gaza that will now circulate in public reports and international forums.

Last week Corbyn convened a two-day tribunal in Westminster to examine Britain’s role in Israel’s war in Gaza, after Parliament blocked his bid for an official inquiry. The event, known as the Gaza Tribunal, was held on September 4–5, 2025 at Church House and heard testimony from 29 witnesses, including doctors, aid workers, United Nations officials and legal experts.

On X, Corbyn framed the purpose and stakes:

Earlier this month, the government blocked an inquiry into its complicity in the Gaza genocide. We don’t need their permission to uncover the truth.

Today, we are hosting the Gaza Tribunal. We want the truth — and we want justice.

Thank you to all those who attended The Gaza Tribunal — an inquiry into Britain’s complicity in genocide. The truth is finally coming out.

Inside the hall, witnesses offered harrowing testimony. Oxford surgeon Professor Nick Maynard said F-35 jets containing British-made components were used to bomb hospitals and kill children, rejecting assertions that the facilities were military sites. Consultant surgeon Dr. Victoria Rose described performing surgery on wounded children without anaesthetic amid severe shortages of medical supplies. A former British diplomat alleged that ministers ignored internal warnings that UK intelligence-sharing risked amounting to complicity in war crimes. The family of aid worker James Henderson, killed in Gaza, said they were left without support from their own government.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese told the panel that UK officials could be exposed to legal liability for continuing military and diplomatic support despite international rulings on the occupied territories. The tribunal concluded that the United Kingdom had “ignored its obligation to prevent genocide,” and Corbyn pledged to transmit a compiled report of findings to the Foreign Secretary.

Watch: The Gaza Tribunal Livestream

Why the Inquiry Was Held

The tribunal was convened only after Jeremy Corbyn’s Independent Public Inquiry (Gaza) Bill — a measure designed to establish a statutory, Chilcot-style investigation with powers to summon ministers and scrutinise Britain’s role in Israel’s war in Gaza, including arms sales, surveillance operations and political support — was blocked in the House of Commons on 4 July 2025.

The Independent Public Inquiry (Gaza) Bill, whose purpose was to create a full investigation into whether the United Kingdom had been complicit in war crimes and genocide, was blocked on 4 July 2025 by the Labour government. The Chief Whip at the time was Sir Alan Campbell, and the Leader of the House was Lucy Powell. Though Hansard does not record which MP shouted “Object,” responsibility lies with Labour’s front bench and the Whips’ Office.

When the bill was called for its second reading, a single shout of “Object” from the government benches was sufficient, under Commons procedure, to halt progress. With no government time subsequently allocated, the bill lapsed.

What Follows

The government has dismissed the proceedings as political theatre, noting that unofficial inquiries lack legal powers. Campaigners counter that sworn testimony and documentary evidence gathered in public will shape debate, litigation strategies and diplomacy. By staging the Gaza Tribunal and amplifying its findings — The truth is finally coming out, Corbyn wrote — supporters say the case for a formal state inquiry has only grown stronger.

Whether that pressure yields a statutory investigation remains uncertain. But last week’s hearings ensured that the question of Britain’s responsibility in Gaza will not recede from the political agenda — or from ministers’ in-trays.