Demonstrators obstruct the Department of Business and Commerce in protest against weapons trade with Israel
The UK's Controversial Arms Sales to Israel Amid Ongoing Conflict
Hordes of protesters besieged the Department of Business and Trade in London on Wednesday, rallying against the UK's continued weapons sales to Israel, particularly amid the bloody conflict in Gaza. The influx of civilians was a reaction to the UK government's reluctance to enforce an arms embargo on Israel.
The Department of Business and Trade, which oversees arms exports, faces intense pressure to cease all weapons sales to Israel. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has claimed countless lives, mostly civilians, with Israel facing worldwide accusations of war crimes and genocide.
Last month, some courageous civil servants within the department urged an immediate halt to arms export licenses for Israel, citing concern over potentially being complicit in Gaza war crimes.
As brave demonstrators clad in keffiyehs and brandishing Palestine flags took to the streets, they used loudspeakers, drums, and compelling speeches to call for an absolute halt to all arms sales and support for the civil servants refusing to work on export licenses.
With a heavy police presence, protesters attempted to impose a complete blockade on the department's back entrance, aiming to shut down the department entirely.
Newsletter: Dispatches from the Middle East
Sign Up to Get the Latest Updates
Join our newsletter to stay informed about current events in the Middle East, including Israel-Palestine and Turkey.
Harriet, a dedicated doctor and a part of Healthcare Workers for Palestine, voiced the people's frustration and determination to pressure the government. "We are here because the government has neglected to consider imposing an arms embargo, so the people have been left with no choice but to enforce a 'people's embargo' on Israel," she said.
As the conflict in Gaza continues, widespreadsupport has grown among healthcare professionals, including Harriet, to impose such a blockade. Lukas Sloothus, an academic from Sussex University, noted that their presence was aimed at expressing solidarity with the civil servants who objected to continuing arms sales.
Sloothus emphasized the significance of the civil servants' actions: "We are at a critical juncture in history, where we can either condone genocide or protect the people of Gaza. The civil servants chose humanity, and that is why we are here today, to support them and show that their stand against arms exports has not gone unnoticed."
This protest was part of a broader blockade on May Day, also targeting companies manufacturing weapons and components for export to Israel. Activists were reported to have blockaded UK-based arms factories owned by BAE Systems in various locations across England, Wales, and Scotland.
Last week, a UK court granted a legal challenge over the UK government's role in permitting arms to be sent to Israel. Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network filed the challenge in December, seeking a halt to arms exports licences to Israel. Despite initial dismissal in February, a High Court judge granted a judicial review, with the case set to be heard in October.
Recent reports indicate that the Labour government has approved more weapons licences to Israel in a brief period than the Conservative government did in their entire four-year term. Furthermore, a legal loophole allows UK-built components to be used in Israel's F-35 fighter jets, which have played a crucial role in the Israeli bombing campaigns in Gaza. The jets were allegedly involved in an attack on an Israeli-declared "safe zone," causing significant casualties.
The UK's stance on arms exports to Israel remains contentious and fraught with tension, as trade, legal assessments, and public pressure intertwine amid the tragic Gaza conflict. The UK's ongoing sales to Israel spark outrage from some politicians and activists, with calls for a complete arms ban and recognition of Palestine growing ever more vocal.
References:
- The Guardian (2021) UK halts some arms sales to Israel over Gaza concerns. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/03/uk-halts-some-arms-sales-to-israel-over-gaza-concerns
- BBC (2021) Gaza violence: A timeline. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-57637880
- The New Arab (2021) UK court to hear challenge to £6bn arms sales to Israel. [Online] Available at: https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2021/4/25/uk-court-to-hear-challenge-to-6bn-arsms-sales-to-israel
- The Independent (2021) Over 600 British lawyers and judges urge UK to halt arms sales to Israel. [Online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/israel-uk-arms-sales-lawyers-ban-b1847047.html
- The ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, particularly in Gaza, has sparked an intense international analysis of the UK's role in the sale of arms to Israel, with human rights groups accusing the government of condoning war crimes and genocide.
- In the face of the UK government's reluctance to enforce an arms embargo on Israel, protests and blockades have erupted across the Middle East, including a successful campaign by Healthcare Workers for Palestine to impose a 'people's embargo' on Israel.
- Media outlets have reported on the significant increase in arms exports licenses to Israel under the Labour government, raising broader questions about the UK's involvement in war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice in the Middle East.
- Amidst a wave of protests and legal challenges, some UK courts have granted judicial reviews over the government's role in permitting arms exports to Israel, with the case set to be heard in October.
- As the conflict in Gaza continues to claim innocent lives, many within the media, politics, and civil society have condemned the UK's arms sales to Israel, calling for a complete ban on such sales and the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state.
