We voted for ceasefires for Ukraine and Syria.
We also filed genocide charges against Putin for Ukraine with the ICJ, and against Myanamar for Rohingya, in joint filings.
But have declined to do so for the Palestinians, despite the facts on the ground of mass destruction and an unprecedented rate of civilian deaths, child deaths, and deaths of humanitarian workers and journalists (even though no foreign journalists are being allowed in- so there aren’t that many to begin with)
We have declined to support the South Africa genocide filing to the ICJ
We have abstained from voting for a ceasefire on the UNSC but are hardly neutral. Our leading politicians, including our PM, have publicly stated they are against a ceasefire. The High Court dismissed a case brought to ban supplying weapons and ammunition to Israel, saying there is no risk IDF would use them to commit war crimes. British defence company, BAE had record breaking profits for 2023 from their arms sales to Israel, which are flowing regularly to Tel Aviv.
So we are not neutral and we are more than complicit bystanders. We are aiding and abetting what may be later ruled a genocide despite clear evidence that such a concern is credible and rational.
In the past, we British have done or assisted in genocides and largely got away with it. So we have an arrogant moral flexibility where our government tends to pick and choose sides based on geopolitics and profits; rather than any belief in or adherence to international law and ethics.