London protesters demand end to arms sales to Israel Trendy Blogger

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

Wednesday night’s protest 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 continued UK arms exports to Israel.

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

Israeli strikes have killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, and left the region in ruins.

Protesters specifically demanded that the British government immediately end all military support for Israel, accusing it of complicity in the current 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 following recent attacks on civilian areas, including the attack 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 British government’s announcement last week that it had suspended 30 of 350 arms export licenses to Israel following 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 continue to be supplied.

Protesters argued that suspending 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, worsening the current humanitarian crisis.

A speaker at the rally said: “The British government has a moral obligation to immediately stop arming Israel. 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 bombardment has devastated homes, hospitals and schools, leaving tens of thousands of civilians homeless and in desperate need of aid. humanitarian aid.

As the death toll continues to rise and many areas of Gaza are 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 campaigners and lawmakers, the British government has defended its arms export policy, saying all licenses are carefully reviewed to ensure they comply with international humanitarian law.

However, critics say this review process is not enough to prevent the use of British-made weapons in the conflict and have called for a complete embargo on arms sales to Israel.

While the rally took place in London, protests also took place in several other major cities across the United Kingdom, reflecting widespread public anger over the government’s arms sales to Israel.

Protesters vowed to continue their efforts to pressure the government until it takes decisive action to stop arms exports to Israel.

With the conflict showing no sign of easing and the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsening by the day, the London protest marked an important moment in the growing movement to hold governments to account for their role in ongoing violence.

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