Activists in London targeted the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) building on Wednesday in a protest against the government's support for Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The building's facade was sprayed with red paint, symbolising the bloodshed taking place in the Palestinian territory at the hands of Israel enabled by its allies led by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
The protest was organised by the groups Palestine Action and Youth Demand. A demonstration marched through central London, with a smaller group breaking off to splash paint on the MoD building.
Five activists were arrested at the scene by the Met police.
A spokesperson for Youth Demand stated that the action was a direct response to the British government supplying arms to Israel. They condemned the loss of life in Gaza and demanded stricter governmental policies on arms sales and fossil fuel exploration.
This action follows recent protests targeting the home of Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and the party's headquarters. Criticism within the UK has grown over arms supplied to Israel, particularly following the deaths of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen, three of whom were British citizens.
The MoD is accused of providing arms and training to Israeli military personnel including within Britain. The UK government has faced calls to halt arms sales to Israel. But Foreign Secretary David Cameron has rejected demands to alter arms sales policies.
The British government is also withholding the results of an internal legal review into potential international law violations by Israel during the Gaza conflict despite demands by the opposition to make them public.
Among all voters in the UK, 56 percent to 17 percent are in favour of halting arms exports and equipment to Israel with the two countries having defence deals worth millions of pounds and a number of Israeli weapons factories operating in the UK, including Elbit Systems.
“The United Kingdom has been complicit in this genocide from the beginning. We still don’t have the exact figures of how much has been produced and traded – but what we do know is private arms companies like Elbit Systems have made RECORD profits since October," said Audrey , 21, a supporter of Palestine Action who took action today.
“Elbit Systems is one of Israel’s biggest arms manufacturers, which holds active contracts with the Ministry of Defence. I am ashamed of this country. What we have is not a Ministry of Defence but a Ministry of Murder.”