Hundreds of people from a coalition of anti-genocide groups have blocked Tower Bridge to demand the UK Government stops arming Israel by imposing a two-ways arms embargo.
At around 5:45pm, supporters of Youth Demand, Prayers for Gaza, Pal Pulse, Thanet for Palestine and Ealing Friends of Palestine began gathering around Tower Bridge. At around 6:05pm, a group of Youth Demand supporters blocked traffic on Tower Bridge. As supporters blocked the road at roughly 6:10pm they were joined by hundreds of supporters blocking the bridge, holding smoke flares. Police immediately began to make arrests under S7 of the Public Order Act 2023 before pushing everyone off the road onto the pavement. Chants of ‘free Palestine’ were heard. The group dispersed at 6:30pm.
One of those taking action today is Tessa Roe-Stanton, 20, a student from London, who said: “Mothers having C-sections without anaestethic, teenagers burning to death in hospital beds, Northern Gaza being wiped off the map. Even the UK Government admits Israel is breaking the law but keeps sending it weapons. When do we say enough and put our bodies on the line to stop the genocide-as-usual regime?” [2]
A spokesperson for Thanet for Palestine has said: “Over 186,000 people may have been murdered in the Gaza Genocide. The UK must impose a full arms embargo and sanctions against Israel. Our leaders must ensure the UK complies with international law and ICJ rulings before thousands more innocent civilians are slaughtered. Stop the Genocide Now!” [4][5][6]
A spokesperson for Prayers for Gaza has said: “Our government is breach of international law, aiding and abetting ethnic cleansing. An overwhelming majority of British public are in favour of an arms embargo on Israel. We call on the UK government to stop ignoring the people they are elected to represent: we the people have the power and we won’t stop until our demands are met.” [11]
A spokesperson for Ealing Friends of Palestine has said: “We took action in response to the horrifying images of civilians being burned alive, starved, and kept under siege — particularly in northern Gaza. We aim to cause as much disruption as possible to hit those in power where it hurts — financially. It is time for the UK government to stop arming this colonial regime.” [3]
This comes as Israel’s siege cuts off all aid and necessities to the hundreds of thousand Palestinians trapped in Northern Gaza, with World Food Programme warning people are starving and that no food entered North Gaza for more than two weeks. [9][10]
Foreign Secretary David Lammy suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licences for Israel last month, citing “a clear risk” the weapons might be used in a “serious violation” of international law. [2] An investigation by Declassified UK revealed Keir Starmer government has ordered 100 spy flights over Gaza to aid Israeli intelligence. [7]
International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan has requested arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister Yoav Gallant. [8] In a ruling on 19th July 2024, International Court of Justice (ICJ) has said UN member states are under an obligation to neither recognise the Israel’s occupation as lawful nor abet it. [5][6]
Today’s actions are just the start. Ordinary people around the country are coming together and putting their bodies on the line to disrupt business-as-usual until the Government stops arming Israel by imposing a two-ways arms embargo. It’s time to step into action at https://youthdemand.org.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Youth Demand is a youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide. Youth Demand a two-way arms embargo on Israel and an end to new oil and gas drilling. Youth Demand is part of Umbrella and a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
[4] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01169-3/fulltext
[5] https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/186/186-20240719-adv-01-00-en.pdf
[7] https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/
[9] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/14/whats-israel-doing-in-north-gaza-now
[10] https://www.npr.org/2024/10/18/nx-s1-5156064/north-gaza-is-starving-as-humanitarian-aid-declines
