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Complicit: Britain's Role in the Destruction of Gaza
Fearless and forensic, this incendiary indictment from one of Britain’s most celebrated political journalists lays bare the full extent of British complicity in the destruction of Gaza.
In a gripping narrative informed by original reporting, Peter Oborne tells how Britain’s Conservative and Labour parties converged to back Israel’s criminal assault—in the process occupying disturbing common ground with the far right.
Rather than challenge this political cartel, British media colluded in its misrepresentations. The shocking result was that, as British authorities helped Israel set Gaza as well as international law aflame, almost everything the public was told about this momentous conflagration was untrue.
When citizens still turned out in their hundreds of thousands to demand a ceasefire, roiling the nation’s politics as they stayed faithful to the ancient British tradition of popular protest in defence of liberty, the political-media machine bared its fangs. The investigative reporting in this book exposes the methods by which peaceful demonstrations were smeared as “hate marches”.
Formerly chief political commentator at the Daily Telegraph and Spectator, Oborne knows the British establishment from within. In this book he names names and provides receipts. His demand is accountability—for atrocities, and their accomplices.
In a gripping narrative informed by original reporting, Peter Oborne tells how Britain’s Conservative and Labour parties converged to back Israel’s criminal assault—in the process occupying disturbing common ground with the far right.
Rather than challenge this political cartel, British media colluded in its misrepresentations. The shocking result was that, as British authorities helped Israel set Gaza as well as international law aflame, almost everything the public was told about this momentous conflagration was untrue.
When citizens still turned out in their hundreds of thousands to demand a ceasefire, roiling the nation’s politics as they stayed faithful to the ancient British tradition of popular protest in defence of liberty, the political-media machine bared its fangs. The investigative reporting in this book exposes the methods by which peaceful demonstrations were smeared as “hate marches”.
Formerly chief political commentator at the Daily Telegraph and Spectator, Oborne knows the British establishment from within. In this book he names names and provides receipts. His demand is accountability—for atrocities, and their accomplices.
- GenresPolitics
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2025
37 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 6, 2026
“Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people turned out week after week for months on end to demonstrate, occupy and take action against British complicity. These heroic efforts vindicated the basic decency of the British public. But government policy barely changed.”
This passionate and impassioned book looks at Britain’s role in the genocide in Gaza, whilst also looking back over the last thirty years or so in particular, with a brief foray as far back as the Balfour Declaration. Oborne examines the legal arguments about whether the legal condition for genocide has been met: according to the ICJ it has.
He also produces the statistics about deaths in Gaza, noting that Israel:
“killed more journalists in Gaza after October 7, 2023, than were killed in the US Civil War, both World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War…the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s and the post 2001 Afghanistan War combined”.
Oborne estimates that around five percent of the Gazan population has died as a result of the conflict. Translate that to the UK and we would be looking at three million or so deaths.
Oborne looks at the leadership of all the main parties when in power and pretty much condemns them all, including the current labour government. An honourable mention for Jeremy Corbyn, who led the Labour Party until 2019 and whose principled stand on Palestine over the last forty odd years is to be admired and he continues to fight for the Palestinian cause, now as an independent MP. He was clearly undermined by the Pro-Israel lobby in his party.
There is a whole section on the influence of the various lobby groups that support Israel: each of the major parties has one and they are extremely influential. The media are also castigated for their consistently biased reporting. There is an impressive amount of detail and argument backing this up.
The only significant British political party condemning Israel’s war crimes and supporting Palestine is the Green Party, led by the Jewish and gay Zack Polanski.
It’s an angry and passionate book which calls for the arrest and charging of many politicians in the UK for the actions and inactions throughout the attacks on Gaza.
It is worth noting that Oborne and other significant writers on the conflict (Ilan Pappe for example) don’t get air time and little enough space in the mainstream press.
This passionate and impassioned book looks at Britain’s role in the genocide in Gaza, whilst also looking back over the last thirty years or so in particular, with a brief foray as far back as the Balfour Declaration. Oborne examines the legal arguments about whether the legal condition for genocide has been met: according to the ICJ it has.
He also produces the statistics about deaths in Gaza, noting that Israel:
“killed more journalists in Gaza after October 7, 2023, than were killed in the US Civil War, both World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War…the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s and the post 2001 Afghanistan War combined”.
Oborne estimates that around five percent of the Gazan population has died as a result of the conflict. Translate that to the UK and we would be looking at three million or so deaths.
Oborne looks at the leadership of all the main parties when in power and pretty much condemns them all, including the current labour government. An honourable mention for Jeremy Corbyn, who led the Labour Party until 2019 and whose principled stand on Palestine over the last forty odd years is to be admired and he continues to fight for the Palestinian cause, now as an independent MP. He was clearly undermined by the Pro-Israel lobby in his party.
There is a whole section on the influence of the various lobby groups that support Israel: each of the major parties has one and they are extremely influential. The media are also castigated for their consistently biased reporting. There is an impressive amount of detail and argument backing this up.
The only significant British political party condemning Israel’s war crimes and supporting Palestine is the Green Party, led by the Jewish and gay Zack Polanski.
It’s an angry and passionate book which calls for the arrest and charging of many politicians in the UK for the actions and inactions throughout the attacks on Gaza.
It is worth noting that Oborne and other significant writers on the conflict (Ilan Pappe for example) don’t get air time and little enough space in the mainstream press.
February 28, 2026
A straight forward and damning charting of Britain's role in facilitating Israel's genocide, a blue print for accountability across British government and media particularly.
December 31, 2025
This is a wonderful book, like his previous “The Fate of Abraham.” The writer gives deft summaries of the historical background and previous atrocities that were the prelude and preparation for the present onslaught. He also covers the grovelling dishonesty of our political leaders with knowledge and expertise. Such a comprehensive, honest and fully referenced work.
December 16, 2025
A powerful, heartfelt ending.
March 29, 2026
I wish I’d read this earlier and shamefully include myself in ‘damn those that didn’t know’. This is a really important read.
February 26, 2026
A superb book that clearly sets out the shameful complicity of Britain in the genocide perpetrated in Gaza and over the longer term in facilitating the ongoing system of apartheid inflicted on the Palestinian people. Peter Oborne is a brave, principled man. This book should be read by all those in government and the media who have facilitated and excused Israel's barbarism, they should then hang their heads in shame.
October 28, 2025
Forensic examination of the complicity of British politicians and media in Netanyahu's genocide in Gaza. A must read.
March 4, 2026
A 3* review feels very harsh for this book, as it is without a doubt a 'must read', but at the same time, I cannot help feel a little bit dissapointed after reading it.
I cannot put my finger on why, maybe a large part of it is due to the fact I am married to a Gazan. So nothing in this book 'suprises' me. I have been very very much aware of the painful hypocrisy of our country ove the last 2 years, more so than most.
I guess I was expecting more of an 'insiders view' into the complicity of our country. Perhaps a 'fly on the wall' type analsysis (Similar to Bob Woodwards 'war' which I have just read', which uses interviews with sources to get a read understanding of discussing within government. But maybe I was being too hopeful, it is not every journalist who is able to have access to this level of infrmation, certtainly not one as opposed to the governments agenda as Oborne.
Peter is clearly a very principled journalist, spreading the truth, which is why a 3* feels very harsh. Chapters on the media lies over October 7th were particularly informative and infuriating, as well as the scandal regarding the house speaker.
Overall a must read book, especially for anybody who is not quite as informed and connected to this conflict as many who are related / friends with people from Gaza.
I cannot put my finger on why, maybe a large part of it is due to the fact I am married to a Gazan. So nothing in this book 'suprises' me. I have been very very much aware of the painful hypocrisy of our country ove the last 2 years, more so than most.
I guess I was expecting more of an 'insiders view' into the complicity of our country. Perhaps a 'fly on the wall' type analsysis (Similar to Bob Woodwards 'war' which I have just read', which uses interviews with sources to get a read understanding of discussing within government. But maybe I was being too hopeful, it is not every journalist who is able to have access to this level of infrmation, certtainly not one as opposed to the governments agenda as Oborne.
Peter is clearly a very principled journalist, spreading the truth, which is why a 3* feels very harsh. Chapters on the media lies over October 7th were particularly informative and infuriating, as well as the scandal regarding the house speaker.
Overall a must read book, especially for anybody who is not quite as informed and connected to this conflict as many who are related / friends with people from Gaza.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews