Thousands rally against UK supply of arms to 'Israel', demand halt
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Multiple speakers attend the rally in Hyde Park, including Northern Ireland's first minister Michelle O'Neill who condemned the UK, the US, and the EU for being complicit in the genocide in Gaza.
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Pro-Palestinian protesters hold placards as they take part in a demonstration in London, on Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP)
The city of London witnessed tens of thousands marching and calling on the UK government to aid in implementing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and halt arms supplies to "Israel".
"We are here to call for the victory of the Palestinian struggle that for us, it means the end of this genocidal war against Gaza, against the West Bank and against all the Palestinian people," one protester said.
Another stated, "It's not in our name, we are selling Englanders selling arms to Israel, and it's got to stop. They're creating genocide. And we don't want any part of it."
In Hyde Park, multiple speakers attended, including Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill who condemned the UK, the US, and the EU for being complicit in the genocide in Gaza.
"Nobody is unsafe in London. If you come into London wanting to defend genocide, people are going to criticize you whether you're Jewish, whether you're Muslim, whether you're Christian, or whatever," a third protester insisted, adding, "We criticize Sunak, we criticize Starmer, neither of them is Jewish, because they defend genocide, they insist on arming Israel to kill innocent civilians."
The definition of 'throwing cash'
This comes after the UK has blocked legal assessments into "Israel's" violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) during its genocidal campaign in Gaza.
The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), a UK-based pressure group that aims to end the global arms trade, referred to Trade Government lawyer James Eadie last week who admitted to a “hiatus” in legal assessments over whether "Israel" is breaching IHL for matters he “couldn’t go into.”
Read more: UK will not block arms sales to 'Israel', says UK's Cameron
He noted that “decisions of some importance have been delayed for some time” and that these delays were due “imminently” probably in mid to late May.
The leader of the UK House of Commons lower chamber said that the security of the Israeli occupation is that of Britain's, proposing that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak increase military spending and consider financing the establishment of a national air defense system similar to "Israel's" Iron Dome.
In addition, more than 600 lawyers, academics, retired senior judges, including three former Supreme Court Justices one of whom is the court’s former President Lady Hale, former court of appeal judges, and more than 60 KCs warned that the UK government is violating international law by perpetually arming "Israel", The Guardian reported.
Almost £57 million ($71.9 million) worth of weapons have been exported to "Israel" from 2022 to June 2023, as per data from the CAAT.
The hefty package includes 151 “standard” licenses – including £19mln ($23.9mln) for aircraft, helicopters, and drones – £10mln ($12.6mln) for armored vehicles and tanks, and £3mln ($3.7mln) for grenades, bombs, missiles, and countermeasures.
It noted that the total value of the UK’s military exports to "Israel" reached £487mln ($615mln).
