Veteran journalist Peter Oborne: I turned my back on the British elite because of Gaza

Peter Oborne, an award-winning veteran journalist and author of the book Complicit, gave a frank interview to Mohamed Hashem on the show Real Talk. He explains why, after decades within the British elite, he decided to leave mainstream media and never look back.

According to Oborne, the Iraq war is the template for what is happening in Gaza today. He points to a direct line from the 2003 invasion of Iraq to Israel's current war in the Gaza Strip. "Both are based on lies, a lack of accountability, and the complicity of Western media," Oborne said.

The journalist specifically criticizes British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for never condemning Israel's war crimes. "He has not once condemned Israel's war crimes," Oborne emphasized. He also compares Starmer to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who, he says, was more willing to confront Israel than the current prime minister. "It is a sad fact that a conservative female prime minister had more courage than a Labour prime minister today in standing up for international law," Oborne said.

Oborne admits he was once a lifelong loyal conservative, but it was the complicity of the British elite—from politicians and officials to the media—in illegal wars that changed him. "I could no longer be part of a system that covers up war crimes," he said.

The interview comes as the war in Gaza continues to spark controversy, with mounting death tolls and international human rights organizations repeatedly calling for a ceasefire. Oborne urges British journalists and citizens to reflect on their country's role in the conflict.