, Member of Parliament for
Leicester East, is amongst the leading signatures of more than
66,000 international lawmakers and civil society representatives
and civilians, calling on the International Criminal Court to
investigate, prosecute and arrest Israeli government figures,
including Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav
Gallant and Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, for war crimes
against the people of Gaza including genocide and crimes against
humanity.
In a Westminster Hall speech to MPs explaining her decision to
put her name to the formal letter of complaint, Ms Webbe said
that she ‘will not be an accomplice’ to the daily war crimes
against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
said:
“I have signed a formal complaint to the International Criminal
Court for Justice calling on them to investigate and prosecute
the Israeli government for war crimes against the people of
Palestine, including genocide and crimes against humanity.
“Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has destroyed or severely damaged
60-70% of homes and public buildings – some estimates say 80-90%
- and has killed more than 20,000 civilians, including at least
10,000 children, as well as maiming countless others, who are now
forced to undergo amputations and other serious surgery without
anaesthetic, in impossible conditions.
“The death toll from bombs and missiles is horrifying, but the
toll from starvation and disease is set to be even worse, with
Israel only allowing a fraction of the aid into Gaza that its
people need and the UN unable to distribute it effectively
because so many of their trucks have been destroyed. More than
150 UN personnel have been killed.
“Yet the Israeli government is blaming the UN for the situation
and is using humanitarian aid as a weapon of war, while Israel’s
ministers have even suggested dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza and
talk openly of ‘Nakba 2023’ – a repeat of the violent mass
expulsion of Palestinians in 1948 - and Israeli troops have
planted flags in the centre of flattened residential districts to
stake their claim.
“I have received well over 6,000 letters and emails from
constituents calling for an immediate ceasefire and I am
comforting too many who have lost family under the rubble and
others desperately worried about their loved ones and friends in
Gaza and I will not be silent. Collective punishment is a war
crime, forcible transfer of the population is a war crime,
indiscriminate bombing and the use of white phosphorus on
civilians – now confirmed by Amnesty International – is a war
crime. I will not be an accomplice.
“I have signed the formal complaint to the International Criminal
Court because there must be accountability for those responsible,
and I have urged my colleagues in Parliament to do the same.
“Never again must mean never again for anyone.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
The letter of complaint to the ICC, which has been signed by
hundreds of Parliamentarians worldwide, MEPs and other
politicians as well as more than 66,000 others, can be found
here. Former Labour leader
, Podemos Social Rights
minister Ione Belarra Urteaga and a host of global lawmakers have
signed. The leading signatures can be found here
