AhlulBayt News Agency: Thousands of demonstrators formed a human chain around the UK Parliament on Wednesday, demanding an immediate halt to the government’s arms exports to Israel.
Dressed in red to symbolize the blood of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces, the protesters urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to end his government’s support for the Tel Aviv regime.
They warned that continuing arms exports to Israel would mean Starmer’s government is “crossing the red line”.
Several lawmakers, including John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn, joined the protest.
The demonstration—organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)—coincided with a parliamentary debate on a bill introduced by Corbyn, calling for a full, public, and independent inquiry into the UK’s involvement in Israel’s war on Gaza.
Speaking to The New Arab, Corbyn expressed hope that the bill would gain enough support to pass.
He also noted that many lawmakers “remain disgusted by the continued supply of components for the F-35 fighter jet program”.
Corbyn warned that the government’s “exceptions” to the suspension of arms exports may violate its legal obligations under international law.
“One thing is clear,” he said, “This government still supplies weapons to a state whose leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity”.
Green Party co-leader and MP Sian Berry, who also joined the protest, emphasized the importance of the UK government complying with international law to prevent genocide in Gaza.
“This includes imposing sanctions, banning arms exports, and withdrawing investments,” Berry stated.
The UK government has admitted to making “exceptions” to its partial suspension of arms export licenses to Israel, specifically allowing the continued shipment of components for F-35 fighter jets, citing their importance to NATO operations and broader international security.
The exemption has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups and lawmakers, who argue that it undermines the suspension and implicates Britain in Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.
A recent Opinium Research poll, published Wednesday for the PSC, revealed widespread public support for an arms embargo on Israel, sanctions against Israeli officials, boycotts of Israeli goods, and Israel’s removal from the United Nations.
The survey showed that 57% of respondents support a full arms embargo on Israel, 53% favor expelling Israel from the UN, and half of those surveyed support boycotting Israeli products altogether.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign urged the UK government to heed public opinion and take decisive action against Israel.
“It is time for our government to listen to the British people and punish Israel now,” the PSC stated.
A case in the UK High Court raised serious concerns in May that Britain may be complicit in Israel’s war on Gaza, as it continues to supply weapons and military components—most notably for F-35 fighter jets—used in attacks that have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
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