UK Politics

Documents released on Tuesday to the National Archives in Kew, west London, reveal that in 2005, Blair said it was “essential” that courts like the International Criminal Court (ICC) did not investigate UK actions in Iraq.

According to UK media reports, Blair’s comments followed a written memo Phillipson sent him in July 2005 about a meeting between the country’s attorney general at the time and two former UK military chiefs. He wrote that they had discussed the case of British soldiers who were accused of beating an Iraqi hotel receptionist, Baha Mousa, to death.

Mousa, who was killed in September 2003 in Basra, Iraq, had been in the custody of UK troops.

Christopher Featherstone, associate lecturer at the Department of Politics, University of York, said: “Blair didn’t want prosecution through international law, and wanted military justice – he saw this as less punitive in the punishments

cross-posted from: https://news.abolish.capital/post/16366

Thought this was good and balanced on how things may turn out.

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/7200275

One of the prisoners on hunger strike in support of Palestine Action has lost the ability to speak and another is unable to stand without passing out, campaigners have said as the protest entered its 56th day.

The eight activists initially went on hunger strike while awaiting trial for alleged break-ins or criminal damage, with four still maintaining their protest.

Heba Muraisi, who is being held in HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire, has said she feels “weaker as each day passes” in a statement released by the Prisoners for Palestine group. She also complained of “bruising on her arm” and a “constant body ache”.

“'I can no longer lie on my side as it hurts my face,” Ms Muraisi said, adding that she is losing the ability to “form sentences, and struggling to maintain conversation”.

Earlier this month two of the activists, Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib, paused their hunger strike at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey after 48 days due to deteriorating health. Both were admitted to hospital for treatment.

Those still refusing food are Teuta Hoxha, Ms Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramello, according to Prisoners for Palestine.

Four of the group, including Ms Muraisi, are accused of playing roles in the break-in at Israeli-linked defence technology company Elbit Systems UK on 19 November 2024. They will go on trial in May next year at the earliest.

The other four are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June, where it is alleged that they sprayed red paint into two RAF Voyager planes.

Ms Hoxha, 29, who is being held in HMP Peterborough, has said that she is “no longer able to stand without blacking out” and enduring “dizzy spells” with “increasing levels of brain fog”, Prisoners for Palestine said. She is “virtually bedridden” as a result of the strike, her second this year.

Allegations that Ms Zuhrah was refused an ambulance sparked a protest outside HMP Bronzefield earlier this month attended by Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana. The Ministry of Justice has denied claims of mistreatment.

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/7133545

cross-posted from: https://news.abolish.capital/post/15394

"Because in the world we live in, Western leaders can arm a genocide and walk free—while Greta Thunberg is arrested as a dangerous terrorist supporter."

That was the assessment of journalist Owen Jones on Tuesday after the Swedish climate justice leader was arrested in London outside the offices of Aspen Insurance, a company that provides services to an Israeli weapons maker, where she had been seated on the ground with a sign stating, "I support Palestine Action prisoners, I oppose genocide."

The protest was in solidarity with demonstrators who have been imprisoned for taking part in nonviolent direct actions with the UK-based group Palestine Action. The government banned Palestine Action in July as a terrorist group, making it the first group to be declared as such under part of the UK Terrorism Act that defines "serious damage to property" as an act of terror—rather than violence against people.

Under the law, anyone who displays items or clothing that "arouse reasonable suspicion" of support for Palestine Action can be punished with up to six months in prison.

Thunberg is one of thousands of people who have taken to the streets in support since the group's proscription, and one of about 2,000 people who have been arrested for doing so. Two other activists were also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

In Thunberg's case, a spokesperson for City of London police said "she has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organization (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.”

The protest was specifically in support of eight people who have been on a hunger strike to protest their imprisonment and Israel's continued attacks and blocking of essential aid in Gaza.

Greta Thunberg has been arrested for supporting the Palestine Action hunger strikers.

Because in the world we live in, Western leaders can arm a genocide and walk free - while Greta Thunberg is arrested as a dangerous terrorist supporter. pic.twitter.com/removedxR9QbJj
— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) December 23, 2025

At least two of the prisoners are in their 52nd day of the hunger strike, and medical professionals have raised grave concerns about their health. Advocates in the UK have also demanded that the Labour government meet with lawyers for the detainees. On Monday, attorneys for the activists said in a letter that the government's refusal to meet with them violates the Ministry of Justice's policy for handling cases of hunger strikes.

“It is up to the state to intervene and put an end to this by meeting these reasonable demands that pave the way for the freedom of all those who choose to use their rights trying to stop a genocide, something the British state has failed to do themselves," said Thunberg.

Member of Parliament Zarah Sultana, co-founder of the socialist Your Party, said that government leaders in the UK, who have continued to back Israel's attacks on Gaza, should be imprisoned, rather than those protesting.

"Greta Thunberg has just been arrested for opposing genocide," said Sultana. "Meanwhile, [Prime Minister] Keir Starmer—complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people—walks free. He should be arrested and sent to The Hague."

Journalist Matt Kennard said images of police confiscating Thunberg's sign and arresting her "will be studied in history books."

"Fascism is already here," he added.

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Note - I authored this piece, any and all criticism/feedback is welcomed!

I wonder how many levels of remove are needed before the police will actually leave you alone.

"I support people who support people who support the Palestine Action hunger strikers' mums"

"I explicitly oppose all actions of Palestine Action, but support every one of their members on a purely personal level"

"I support Palestine Action if the police officer who arrests me is a wanker, otherwise I don't"

"Sometimes I support Palestine Action, but only when there are no people under the age of 80 within 50 metres of me"

Reform UK’s candidate for Hampshire mayor called for a British investigative journalist who exposed key elements of the UK’s role in the Gaza genocide to be arrested for “incitement to violence”.