HUMAN RIGHTS campaigners have expressed concern over the Metropolitan Police’s refusal to investigate alleged war crimes by Britons serving with Israeli forces in Gaza. 

The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) and Palestine Centre for Human Rights said they are disappointed with the Met’s decision to close its scoping exercise into 10 British nationals who served with the Israeli military.

This followed the groups’ filing of a dossier of evidence on April 7, 2025 concerning alleged offences, including targeted killings of civilians and aid workers, indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas, attacks on hospitals and forced displacement of civilians. 

In its decision letter, dated April 27, the Met Police accepted that international bodies consider actions in Gaza “could amount to war crimes” and initially confirmed at least four individuals were of “particular interest” following enquiries.

The War Crimes Team refused to progress beyond a scoping exercise, however, stating that there was no realistic prospect of conviction and an effective investigation could not be conducted.

PILC’s Paul Heron said the group rejected the conclusions, saying: “In our view, the wrong legal test has been applied by insisting at this early stage that there be sufficient evidence to charge. 

“This was not a charging decision for prosecutors at the end of an investigation; it was a decision about whether serious allegations of core international crimes should be investigated at all.”

He said that the police “appear to have demanded, at the pre-investigation stage, evidence capable of establishing a realistic prospect of conviction.”

Mr Heron said this was the “wrong approach and sets the hurdle very high for any investigation.

“The very purpose of an investigation is to obtain and test evidence — including evidence not available to victims, lawyers or civil society organisations,” he said.

“The UK has clear obligations to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

“British nationals and residents cannot be allowed to participate in atrocities abroad with impunity.”

PILC said it will be considering its next steps very carefully and is likely to bring proceedings against the police force.

The Met’s refusal risks creating an accountability gap for alleged international crimes committed by British nationals or residents overseas, the group said, maintaining that the referral “provided credible material warranting a full investigation.”