Starmer faces calls for UK's role in Gaza war to be scrutinised in Chilcot-style inquiry

Jeremy Corbyn has urged Sir Keir Starmer to set up an independent Chilcot-style inquiry into the UK's involvement in Israel's war in Gaza.

In a letter to the prime minister seen by Sky News, the former Labour leader argued there was public concern British officials had been implicated "in the gravest breaches of international law" because of decisions made by the government.

Mr Corbyn, now the independent MP for Islington North, said he had repeatedly sought answers on the continued sale of components for F-35 jets to Israel, the role of British military bases and the legal definition of genocide - but had been met with "evasion, obstruction and silence".

As a result, the government was "leaving the public in the dark over the ways in which the responsibilities of government have been discharged", Mr Corbyn argued.

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'History is repeating itself'

Drawing parallels with the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq War - which found the UK's decision to invade was based on "flawed intelligence and assessments" - Mr Corbyn said "history is repeating itself".

The Chilcot report, which was published in 2016 following a series of delays, criticised former Labour prime minister Sir Tony Blair for not consulting his cabinet before giving George W Bush assurances the UK would be with him "whatever", eight months before the invasion began.

It also said the circumstances leading up to the then attorney general's controversial advice that the war was legal - without a second UN resolution - were "far from satisfactory".

In his letter, Mr Corbyn said "many people believe the government has taken decisions that have implicated officials in the gravest breaches of international law".

"These charges will not go away until there is a comprehensive, public, independent inquiry with the legal power to establish the truth," he added.

The Islington MP, who was suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party in 2020 in a row over antisemitism and later blocked from standing as one of its general election candidates, said in the interests of "transparency and accountability" he would be "working with colleagues in pursuing all avenues to establish an independent inquiry".

"Today, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 61,000," he said, referring to figures that include people who are missing and presumed dead.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israel's assault on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians. It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in this count.

Mr Corbyn continued: "At least 110,000 - or one in twenty - people have been injured. It is estimated that 92% of housing units have been destroyed or damaged.

"Two Israeli officials are now wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity."

These officials are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence secretary Yoav Gallant. Mr Netanyahu's office rejected the ICC warrants against him and Mr Gallant as "antisemitic" and said Israel "rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions".

Referring to the October 7 attack that triggered Israel's invasion of Gaza, Mr Netanyahu said: "With what audacity do you compare Hamas that murdered, burned, butchered, decapitated, raped and kidnapped our brothers and sisters and the IDF soldiers fighting a just war?"

While in opposition, Sir Keir struggled to contain divisions within Labour when Israel began its incursion into Gaza following the Hamas terrorist attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and saw about 250 taken hostage.

The Labour leader drew criticism for an interview he gave to LBC in which he appeared to suggest that Israel had a right to limit essential supplies, including water and electricity, to Gaza.

He later said he was only referring to the right Israel had to defend itself.

Arms sales to Israel

Last April, under Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak, the government was warned it was breaching international law by continuing to arm Israel and faced calls to suspend arms exports to the country after three British aid workers were killed in an airstrike.

Months later, the newly elected Labour government announced it would suspend some arms sales to Israel, following a review of export licences which found there was a "clear risk" they might be used to commit "a serious violation of international humanitarian law".

While the UK does not directly supply Israel with weapons, it does grant export licences for British companies to sell arms to the country.

The suspension covered components that go into military aircraft that have been used in Gaza, including helicopters and drones, as well as items which facilitate ground targeting.

But it did not include parts for multinational F-35 fighter jets - something that has concerned opposition MPs and human rights charities.

In response, Mr Netanyahu said the decision was "shameful" and "will not change Israel's determination to defeat Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization that savagely murdered 1200 people on October 7, including 14 British citizens".

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Defining genocide

Sir Keir, a former public prosecutor and human rights barrister, has also faced pressure to share his legal definition of genocide following questioning from an independent MP in the Commons.

The prime minister told the Commons he was "well aware of the definition of genocide, and that is why I have never described this as, and referred to it as, genocide".

Middle East and North Africa minister Hamish Falconer later told Mr Corbyn in a letter that it was the government's "long-standing policy" that "any determination that genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, not for governments or non-judicial bodies".

"This approach ensures that any determination is above politics, lobbying and individual or national interest," he said.

A Government spokesperson said: "Our priority since day one has been a sustainable ceasefire, and a lasting peace that will ensure the long-term peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis.

"We must build confidence on all sides that helps sustain the ceasefire and move it from phase one through to phase three, and into a lasting peace and an end to the suffering on all sides."

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