An open letter penned by Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader turned independent MP, has been signed by 30 other MPs and five Lords.

All seven Sinn Féin MPs — a majority of those representing Northern Ireland — are among the signatories to the letter sent to prime minister Keir Starmer, alongside MPs from the Labour Party, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru.

The letter states: “In the aftermath of the Iraq War, several attempts were made to establish an inquiry surrounding the conduct of British military operations. Published in 2016, the Chilcot inquiry found serious failings within the British government, which ignored the warnings of millions of ordinary people over its disastrous decision to go to war.

“History is repeating itself. Today, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 61,000. Two Israeli officials are now wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“Britain has played a highly influential role in Israel’s military operations, including the sale of weapons, the supply of intelligence and the use of Royal Air Force (RAF) bases in Cyprus.

“Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of democracy. Therefore, we are demanding an independent, public inquiry into the UK’s involvement in Israel’s military assault in Gaza.

“This inquiry should establish exactly what decisions have been taken, how these decisions have been made, and what consequences they have had. Any meaningful inquiry would require the full co-operation from government ministers involved in decision-making processes since October 2023.

“Many people believe that the government has taken decisions that have implicated officials in the gravest breaches of international law. These charges will not go away until there is a comprehensive inquiry with the legal power to establish the truth.”

Chris Hazzard, the Sinn Féin MP for South Down, said: “For 18 months now, the Israeli army has continually attacked the defenceless population of Gaza, while world leaders turn a blind eye to these barbaric and inhumane actions.

“Some members of the international community are complicit in the ongoing genocide, displacement and apartheid targeting the Palestine people.

“This letter calls for a public inquiry into the British government’s role in the war on Gaza, and how it has assisted Netanyahu’s reckless and out-of-control regime.

“While Israel must be held fully accountable for its flagrant breaches of international law, we also must establish what role successive British governments have played in this war.

“Sinn Féin will continue to call for a lasting peaceful settlement that leads to an independent Palestinian state, and an end to the genocide, occupation and collective punishment.”