Thousands rally at Whitehall to demand Labour end all arms sales with Israel
Around 7,000 people rallied at Whitehall on Friday evening, demanding that the Labour government ends all arms sales to Israel.
The protest came just days after Labour pivoted to criticise Israel. But the demonstration was clear that simple criticism is not enough—and that it the strength of the movement has forced concessions from the state.
“Something strange happened in parliament on Tuesday—David Lammy spoke some truths,” Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, told Socialist Worker.
Lammy described Israel’s actions as “morally indefensible, grotesque, wrong”—but what he didn’t do “is use the word genocide”. “But even if he had, his words would not have been enough,” said Ben.
“If something is intolerable and unjustifiable, it’s not that you simply support it—you don’t participate in it.”
Just last week, the British government was defending its supply of F-35 parts to Israel by claiming it had to maintain its relationship with the United States. Since the suspension of 30 arms licences last year, British arms exports to Israel have increased.
But Ben argued, “What’s significant is that it’s reflective of wider cracks in the political establishment in the standard support for Israel.
“The cloak of rationality that’s been used to justify support for Israel, that it’s a liberal democracy, is cracking.”
Ben said this crack in support is a “welcome development”, but it must lead to action. “We continue our demands on the government—a full arms embargo, an end to all trade,” he said.
“Stop treating Israel like a normal state. It’s not just practicing a genocide, but for 77 years has been violating international law and pushing a system of apartheid.”
Ben added that we’re “seeing the impact” of the Palestine movement. “Israel is becoming increasing isolated. That’s because of the reality of what’s happening, but it’s also because of the pressure of this movement,” he said.
“This is the moment to escalate, to keep our foot on the pedal—because the cracks are beginning to show.”
One protester said David Lammy’s criticism of Israel was almost “cruel”. “How can you say that what Israel is doing is wrong and then refuse to call it a genocide and refuse to do anything about it?,” they told Socialist Worker.
“Israel’s actions should be condemned—but they should be called genocidal and we should stop helping them do it.”
Protester Dan told Socialist Worker, “Israel has stepped up its genocide, which has always been horrific, and Starmer is helping them do it.
“Taking more concrete action is essential. Getting to the arms factories, shutting them down with the masses is important.
“We’ve got the momentum. We can use it, we must use it—because it’s the West’s, Labour’s support for arms that’s making this genocide possible.
“Britain needs Israel—but we’re showing the hypocrisy of our governments support. It’s working.”
As the protest spilled out into the road, speakers addressed the rally from the stage.
Liz Wheatley, a Unison union national executive member, told the rally that “words are not enough”. “We need action to end arms trade, action to stop trade with illegal settlements, action to stop the bombing of hospitals,” she said.
“But we need to think of how we can escalate our action—Saturday is a huge boost to the movement.
“What else can we do? Boycott, Divestment, Sanction is part of that—it has always been a part of our fight. So far 10 council have divested—but if 10 can do it, 100 can do it, 500 can do it.”
Liz added that the protests outside arms factories on 17 June are essential. “Those companies are profiting out of genocide. We can shut them down and give workers the confidence to take action as well,” she said.
Yasmine Adam from the Muslim Association of Britain said that Labour’s answer to Israel’s genocide is “vague promise of concrete action in the nearby future”.
“What kind of future are they waiting for? A future where the last child has died, the last refugee camp has been turned into a mass grave?” she said.
“We demand more than words. We demand a total arms embargo in Israel, we demand the end of British complicity. Until that happens, we are not stopping because we know they are feeling the pressure.
Yasmine said that Labour’s criticism is “not the good will of Starmer or Lammy, it’s because of the weight of our movement”.
“We are not here to settle or wait for crumbs or symbolic gestures,” she said. “Our movement doesn’t end or begin with them. We are here to see the full liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea, a day they know we have never been closer to.”
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