A group of British lawyers led by self-styled radical barrister Michael Mansfield KC has submitted a detailed report to the Metropolitan Police’s War Crimes Team, accusing 10 British nationals of committing war crimes while serving with the Israel Defense Forces during the war in Gaza, The Guardian reported on Monday.
The 240-page dossier, compiled by members of the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), claims that the individuals—some of whom allegedly held command roles—participated in or were complicit in acts including the targeting of civilians, attacks on aid workers and assaults on protected sites such as hospitals and religious landmarks.
The identities of the accused have not been disclosed for legal reasons. The incidents cited allegedly took place during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, which left over 1,200 people dead in southern Israel and prompted an extended military response.
Jonathan Turner, Chief Executive of UK Lawyers for Israel, strongly rejected the allegations.
“This has all the trappings of a publicity stunt,” Turner told JNS. “It is also noticeable that the alleged crimes referred to in the report differ from the main allegations made by the prosecutor of the ICC, namely that Israel used starvation as a method of warfare. We showed that the ICC prosecutor’s allegations were completely false, and I expect these allegations are false too.”
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed receipt of the submission but has not yet announced whether a formal investigation will be launched.
