LONDON: London police on Wednesday arrested at least nine pro-Palestinian protesters for staging a demonstration demanding the UK’s government take action to halt arms sales to Israel.
They were protesting outside the Foreign Office in Westminster, central London against the new Labour government’s perceived inaction regarding Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Approximately 300 demonstrators gathered on Whitehall and outside the Foreign Office in Westminster, displaying a large banner that read ‘Genocide Made in Britain’ as part of a pro-Palestinian rally.
The event, organized by Workers for a Free Palestine, a network of workers and trade unionists, called for an immediate halt to arms exports to Israel and demanded transparency from the UK government regarding legal advice on British arms sales to Israel.
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Pressure has mounted on the government to disclose whether internal legal counsel influenced decisions on continuing arms or parts sales to Israel, particularly components allegedly linked to the F-35 fighter jets used in Gaza. Concerns have been raised that such equipment could potentially violate international law if used in war crimes.
Earlier this year, now Foreign Secretary David Lammy, then in opposition, urged the Conservative government to release the legal advice and to consider suspending arms sales under these circumstances.
