Foreign Office fails to release 2024 assessment of risk of genocide in Gaza

Report said to have found no serious risk last June, and government refuses to say if new assessment made since

The Foreign Office has failed to release an internal assessment made in June last year that reportedly concluded that there was no serious risk of Israel committing genocide in Gaza. It has also refused to disclose if an updated assessment of a risk of genocide has been made.

The rights group Amnesty International in June tabled a freedom of information request to see the 2024 assessment, but the officials failed to reply within the statutory one month deadline Amnesty lodged a formal complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office. It also asked if there was an updated government assessment of Israel’s intent to comply with international law including a re-examination of the risk of genocide.