Youth Demand supporters have again taken to the streets, demanding that the UK government impose a total trade embargo on Israel, and make the super rich and fossil fuel elite pay damages to communities and countries most harmed by fossil fuel burning. [1]
Just after 11am this morning, up to 40 Youth Demand supporters in two teams under the shadow of St Paul’s cathedral stepped onto pedestrian crossings at the junction of St Pauls Churchyard and New Change just below Watling St. They unfurled banners reading “Stop arming Israel” and “Youth Demand” and let of smoke flares.
One driver of a white Luton van, chose to force his vehicle through the group on the New Change crossing, but none of the Youth Demand supporters were injured. The groups blockaded the junction before leaving to re-emerged at the southern end of Waterloo Bridge, swarming roads around the major IMAX roundabout.
Taking action today was Noah, 22 a Theology graduate from Cambridge who said:
Marching, writing to MPs, it hasn’t worked. The killing in Gaza goes on and on, while the UK government continues to support the immoral Israeli regime. I will not be a bystander and do nothing.
Youth Demand supporter Rosa, 23 a student at the University of Leeds added:
I’m taking action because I’m sickened by the government’s longstanding role in the genocide in Gaza.
No Youth Demand supporters were arrested today, during almost two weeks of Youth Demand action in London 15 supporters have been arrested, 12 during swarming actions and three during a rally held outside the BBC at Portland Place on the evening of Tuesday 15th April. Prior to the action starting the Metropolitan Police arrested 18 Youth Demand supporters in pre-emptive raids. All have been released on bail.
This morning it has been reported that IDF troops will remain in the 20% of Gaza that has been declared a ‘security buffer’ by the Israeli government. The ongoing killing and displacement of Palestinians in Gaza continues, Israel on average kills a child in Gaza every 45 minutes. That is 30 children killed every day over the past 557 days. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 17,400 children, including 15,600 who have been identified. [2][3]
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that Israel’s military had completely surrounded the southern Gaza city of Rafah and established a new security zone as it continues and expands an offensive in the Palestinian territory. According to the UN two-thirds of Gaza has been designated as “no-go” zones or placed under evacuation orders since Israel resumed its offensive against Hamas on 18 March following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire. This has left 390,000 Palestinians — almost a fifth of the 2.1 million population — with no safe place to go.[4]
Israel has persistently denied that its political leaders or military have committed war crimes during its assault on Gaza, in which it has killed more than 50,000 people, most of them civilians. The UK continues to support genocide by supplying arms, whilst conducting more surveillance flights on behalf of Israel over Gaza than any other country. [5]
Young people will not accept these crimes against humanity and we will not be led by war criminals and arsonists. We cannot allow those in power to get away with facilitating the systematic annihilation of an entire culture. It’s time to take to the streets day after day and to demand better. Only sustained mass resistance can put an end to this genocide.
ENDS
Youth Demand Press contact: 07762 987334
Press email: YouthDemandPress@protonmail.com
High quality images & video here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13vFus2e8TEI_bfhIYHXEIV-IZV86P9v9
Website: https://youthdemand.org
Twitter: https://x.com/youth_demand
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_youthdemand
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@youth.demand
Notes to Editors
[1] Youth Demand is a youth-led resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide in Palestine and across the globe as a result of the climate crisis.
Our demands:
Stop all trade with Israel:the UK government must impose a total trade embargo on Israel.
Make the rich pay: the UK government must raise £1tn by 2030 from the super rich and fossil fuel elite to pay damages to communities and countries most harmed by fossil fuel burning.
Youth Demand is part of Umbrella and a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g2775v853o
[4] https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/12/middleeast/israel-gaza-offensive-displaced-rafah-intl/index.html
