London protesters demand halting arms sales to Israel

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the Prime Minister's office in Downing Street, London, calling on the UK government to stop arms sales to Israel in response to its ongoing military operations in Gaza.

The protest on Wednesday night was sparked by an Israeli airstrike on a "humanitarian safe zone" in southern Gaza that killed at least 40 civilians earlier this week.

Waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans such as "stop the genocide" and "long live Gaza," protesters condemned the UK’s continued arms exports to Israel.

The rally drew attention to the devastating impact of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

The Israeli strikes have killed over 41,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, and left the region in ruins.

The protesters specifically demanded the UK government immediately halt all military support to Israel, accusing it of complicity in the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Many speakers at the rally expressed outrage at the UK’s role in supplying weapons that could be used in the conflict, particularly in the wake of recent attacks on civilian areas, including the strike on a tent camp in al-Mawasi, near Khan Younis, which had been designated by Israel as a "safe zone" for displaced civilians.

The rally followed the UK government’s announcement last week that it had suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel after a review.

The review raised concerns that some UK arms exports could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.

The suspended licenses include components for military aircraft, helicopters, drones, and ground-targeting equipment but notably exclude UK components for the F-35 fighter jet program, which continues to be supplied.

Protesters argued that the suspension of just 30 licenses was insufficient and called for a complete halt to all military exports to Israel.

They warned that any continued military support could fuel further violence and civilian casualties in Gaza, exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

One speaker at the rally said, "The UK government has a moral obligation to stop arming Israel immediately. These weapons are being used to kill innocent civilians, and by continuing to supply them, the UK is complicit in these atrocities."

The protest also highlighted the broader international outcry over the situation in Gaza, where relentless Israeli bombardments have devastated homes, hospitals, and schools, leaving tens of thousands of civilians homeless and in desperate need of humanitarian aid.

With the death toll continuing to rise and many parts of Gaza reduced to rubble, human rights organizations have called for urgent international intervention to protect civilians and end the violence.

In response to growing pressure from activists and lawmakers, the UK government has defended its arms export policy, stating that all licenses are carefully reviewed to ensure they comply with international humanitarian law.

However, critics argue that this review process is not enough to prevent British-made weapons from being used in the conflict and have called for a complete embargo on arms sales to Israel.

As the rally in London unfolded, protests were also held in several other major cities across the UK, reflecting widespread public anger over the government’s arms sales to Israel.

Demonstrators vowed to continue their efforts to pressure the government until it takes decisive action to stop the export of arms to Israel.

With the conflict showing no signs of abating and the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsening by the day, the protest in London marked a significant moment in the growing movement to hold governments accountable for their role in the ongoing violence.

Protesters made it clear that they would not rest until their demands for justice and peace in Gaza were met.