Israel PM picks ex-navy commander as new security chief

LONDON: A group of MPs in the UK have called on the government to launch an Iraq war-style inquiry into Britain’s role in the Gaza conflict, Sky News reported on Wednesday.

The 37 MPs include 10 from the governing Labour Party, who have signed a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer written by Jeremy Corbyn, the party’s former leader.

Corbyn demanded a “comprehensive inquiry with legal power to establish the truth” about the war, which has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

It follows Israel denying entry to, and deporting, two Labour MPs who had traveled there as part of a parliamentary delegation.

Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang intended to visit humanitarian aid projects in the West Bank.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy described Israel’s decision as “unacceptable” and “no way to treat British parliamentarians.”

MPs from the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein also signed Corbyn’s letter, as did members of the House of Lords.

He said he has consistently pursued answers over Britain’s continued sale of F-35 jet components to Israel, the use of British military bases in the war, and the legal definition of genocide, yet he has been met with “evasion, obstruction and silence.”

The government is “leaving the public in the dark over the ways in which the responsibilities of government have been discharged,” Corbyn added.

He warned that history is at risk of “repeating itself,” drawing parallels to the UK’s decision to invade Iraq based on “flawed intelligence and assessments.”

That assessment was found by the Chilcot report into the Iraq war, published in 2016 following numerous delays.

An inquiry into the UK’s ties to the Gaza war “should establish exactly what decisions have been taken, how these decisions have been made and what consequences they have had,” Corbyn said.

“Any meaningful inquiry would require the full cooperation from government ministers involved in decision-making processes since October 2023,” he added.

“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.”

DUBAI: Qatar welcomed on Tuesday Oman’s hosting of high-level talks between the US and Iran, scheduled for Saturday, Qatar’s state news agency reported. 

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed hopes that the talks would lead to a sustainable agreement that improves regional security, stability, and cooperation.

Qatar also acknowledged Oman’s diplomatic efforts to facilitate the discussions and reaffirmed its belief in dialogue as the best solution for resolving international conflicts.