LONDON (Palestine Foundation Information Center) Thousands gathered outside Downing Street on Friday evening in an emergency protest under the banner “Stop Arming Israel – Words Are Not Enough,” demanding an immediate halt to the UK’s arms exports to Israel. The mass mobilization was organized by leading advocacy groups including the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB), Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA), Stop the War Coalition, Muslim Association of Britain, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
The protest drew people from across the UK, all united in opposition to the British government’s continued complicity in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The crowd held aloft Palestinian flags and placards, chanting calls for justice, ceasefire, and sanctions, as speeches from a wide range of campaigners filled the air with powerful messages.
Speaking on behalf of PFB, Sireen El Hamamy delivered a moving address condemning the UK’s role in Gaza’s genocide. “While words have been spoken, the UK continues to export weapons that enable atrocities,” she said. “This is the height of hypocrisy and moral failure. We demand that the British government align its actions with its words.” She went on to describe the catastrophic situation in Gaza, highlighting the deaths of children from starvation and disease and criticizing the West’s “racist and selective” approach to human rights. Her speech concluded with the defiant call: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
The panel of speakers included:
● Sireen El Hamamy – Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB)
● Noor Fares – Association of Student Activism for Palestine ASA
● Chris Nineham – Stop the War Coalition
● Ben Jamal – Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)
● Sophie Bolt – Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
● Yasmin Adam – The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB)
● Liz Wheatley – UNISON (representing trade unions)
● Stephen Kapos – Holocaust survivor and long-time advocate for Palestinian rights
● Jeremy Corbyn MP – Independent Member of Parliament
● Owen Jones – Journalist
Each speaker condemned the British government’s failure to take meaningful action, and many emphasized the public’s growing frustration with political inaction. Calls for an arms embargo, international accountability, and solidarity with the Palestinian people echoed throughout the demonstration.
Since day 1 of the Gaza genocide, the British public have been taking to the streets, with thousands of protests, rallies, and vigils for the last 19 months, all while the UK government continues to back Israel with military, financial, and intelligence support. It is worth noting that the next national march for Palestine will take place on 21 June 2025 in Central London.
