UK police arrest nine during protest against arms exports to 'Israel'
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Organizers of the protest, Workers for a Free Palestine, are pressuring the UK government to stop sending weapons to "Israel" and release legal counsel on the matter.
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Workers and trade unionists shutting down access to the Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) in central London, on July 24, 2024 (X/@Workers4Pal)
Nine activists from a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators in London were arrested as protesters blocked the Foreign Office's entrance earlier in an effort to stop UK military shipments to "Israel".
The organizers and protesters, including laborers and trade unionists, objected and dubbed the arrest an excessive response.
Organizers of the protest, Workers for a Free Palestine, are pressuring the UK government to stop sending weapons to "Israel" and release legal counsel on the matter.
The new Labour government came under fire from activists for not making a big change to UK policy toward "Israel".
The significance of the demonstration is highlighted by its location at the official headquarters responsible for shaping British foreign policy.
🚨 BREAKING
— Peace & Justice Project (@corbyn_project) July 24, 2024
Hundreds of workers and trade unionists have blockaded the Foreign Office to demand the new Labour government ends its complicity in the genocide in Gaza and immediately suspends all arms to Israel.pic.twitter.com/s8vVqv3r8K
Read next: 600 UK officials say arming 'Israel' breaches international law
The demonstration comes one day after Declassified UK revealed that the UK Ministry of Defense possesses video surveillance footage of Gaza from the day "Israel" killed seven international aid workers in a massacre but is refusing to release it, fearing it would be used as evidence in the International Criminal Court.
The footage, captured by a Royal Air Force (RAF) surveillance plane had documented approximately five hours over Gaza on April 1, when seven people working for the World Central Kitchen convoy were killed by "Israel", including three British military veterans: John Chapman, James Kirby, and James ‘Jim’ Henderson.
The RAF surveillance plane seemingly returned to its base in Cyprus just minutes before the airstrikes were launched.
As a result, the RAF may have recorded footage of the events leading up to the massacre, which could shed light on the Israeli occupation's claims by either proving or disproving whether or not "Hamas gunmen" were near the convoy, Declassified argued.
Anti-"Israel" protests in the UK have been ongoing since the Israeli genocide in Gaza was unleashed.
Back in May, the UK witnessed another protest against the shipment of weapons to "Israel" as pro-Palestine demonstrators blocked numerous weapons factories. In Glasgow, the entrance to the Thales plant was blocked and five activists were arrested.
While in Shenstone, members of the Palestine Action group stood at the entrance to the UAV Engines Ltd. Six activists were arrested by police at the scene.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters have marched through London, demanding the Israeli regime stop the genocidal campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip.
That came after UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated on BBC that while he opposes a major ground offensive in Rafah, the UK will not follow in the US' footsteps in halting some arms sales to "Israel". He noted that the UK contributes only 1% to "Israel's" total weapons supply and emphasized that "Israel" needs to better "protect civilians" and ensure the passage of humanitarian aid.
The Palestine Action group has been quite active in the UK in advocating to stop weapon shipments to "Israel". Back in April, they stormed a US-owned Teledyne factory in West Yorkshire because it exports weapons for the Israeli occupation forces.
Last month, The Guardian reported, citing government data, that the United Kingdom issued over 100 arms export licenses to "Israel" between October 7, 2023, and May 31, 2024. The data show that no arms export license applications were rejected or revoked during the war on Gaza.
