In response to theOctober 7 attacks, Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asserted that the United Kingdom "unequivocally" stood with Israel.[1] His government issued an "unequivocal condemnation" ofPalestinian militant groupHamas[2] and deployedBritish Armed Forces personnel and assets to theEastern Mediterranean to support Israel if necessary.[3] The Conservative government aligned itself with the United States, whichgave significant support to Israel. In the first months, it abstained from threeUnited Nations Security Council resolutions calling for immediate ceasefires.[4] As a result, the UK was criticised as global calls for a ceasefire grew.[5] Both the Conservative UK government and the Labour Party began calling for a ceasefire in December 2023, two months after the war began.
In May 2025, the UK's Labour government issued statements condemning Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza, calling for Israel to immediately stop its military operations and to immediately allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The UK government suspendednegotiations on afree trade deal with Israel, summoned Israel's ambassador, and imposed new sanctions against Israeli West Bank settlers, warning of further "concrete actions" if Israel continued.
The UK government issues licenses to British companies to sell military equipment to Israel, and Israel has used British-supplied weapons in the war:[6][7][8] British companies supply less than 1% of Israel's military imports,[9] and according to the UK government, British military exports to Israel amounted to £18 million in 2023.[10][11] Various international organisations, over 600 members of the British legal profession, and three former senior British judges argued that British arms sales to Israel violate international law,[12] and could render the UK complicit inIsraeli war crimes and genocide.[13][14] Conservative Foreign SecretaryDavid Cameron said in April 2024 that the government would not block British arms sales to Israel.[15] In September 2024, the UK's Labour governmentsuspended some arms export licenses to Israel.
On 8 October, British Prime MinisterRishi Sunak told Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu that the United Kingdom "unequivocally" stands with Israel. He also announced "we will continue to provide Israel with every support that it needs as we stand steadfast with Israel, including its right to self defence to ensure that these attacks do not happen."[1]
On 12 October, the UK announced that it would send twoRoyal Navy supports ships, 100Royal Marines and surveillance aircraft to the Eastern Mediterranean from 13 October to support Israel. This includesPoseidon P-8 aircraft and other planes tasked partly with preventing weapon transfers toHezbollah in Lebanon fromIran.[16][17]
In November 2023, theScottish National Party tabled aparliamentary motion calling for a ceasefire, saying in an official release, "It's time tocall a spade a spade. To any neutral observer, war crimes are being committed by Israel in Gaza."[21] No Conservative MPs voted for the motion[22] and Labour said its MPs shouldabstain and, instead, vote on Labour's own motion calling for "humanitarian pauses" to the fighting.[23] However, a number of its MPs, includingfrontbenchers, defied the order and voted for the ceasefire motion.[24][23] Ten frontbenchers resigned from their position because they did not agree with theparty line.[25][23][26]
December 2023
On 2 December, theUK Ministry of Defence announced that it would begin surveillance flights over Gaza "in support of the ongoing hostage rescue activity".[27]
Former-Chief of the Defense Staff,David Richards, called on David Cameron to demand a ceasefire in December 2023.[28]
January 2024
UK Foreign SecretaryDavid Cameron expressed concern about potential breaches of international law by Israel, specifically addressing the need for Israel torestore water supplies to Gaza.[29] Cameron said in the same month that "Israel is acting in self-defence after the appalling attack on October 7" and denied that Israel is committingwar crimes in Gaza. He dismissed South Africa'sICJ genocide case against Israel as "nonsense", saying that Israel is "a democracy, a country with the rule of law, a country with armed forces that are committed to obeying the rule of law".[30]
On 15 April,Karim Ahmad Khan, chief prosecutor of theInternational Criminal Court (ICC), informed the British government that he would be seeking arrest warrants for Israeli leaders accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. On 23 April, David Cameron called Khan and threatened to withdraw the UK from theRome Statute if Khan went ahead with seeking the warrants.[33]
May 2024
On 21 May, Sunak criticized the ICC for seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense MinisterYoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaderYahya Sinwar, calling the action "deeply unhelpful". He emphasized that there is no "moral equivalence" between Israel and Hamas and argued that this move would make "absolutely no difference" to achieving wider peace in the Middle East.[34]
By May 2024, the UK had conducted 200 spy missions over Gaza in support of Israel. The planes took of fromRAF Akrotiri airbase.[35]
UK Prime MinisterKeir Starmer's spokesperson stated the UK was dropping its objections to the ICC prosecutor's request for arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.[37]
September 2024
On 2 September, Foreign SecretaryDavid Lammy suspended thirty of 350 military export licenses to Israel after concluding there was a "clear risk" they might be used to commit serious violations of international law.[38]
October 2024
On 18 October, following thekilling of Yahya Sinwar, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the UK "will not mourn" the death of the Hamas leader, and described it as an opportunity for a ceasefire. Starmer added, "I say once again to Israel, the world will not tolerate any more excuses on humanitarian assistance. Civilians in northern Gaza need food, now".[39][40][41]
On 28 October, afterIsrael's parliament passedtwo laws banningUNRWA,[42] Starmer issued a statement saying he was "gravely concerned". He said "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is simply unacceptable" and "Only UNRWA can deliver humanitarian aid at the scale and pace needed". The foreign ministers of the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan and South Korea issued a joint statement that Israel's move would have "devastating consequences", and affirmed: "It is crucial that UNRWA and other UN organisations and agencies be fully able to deliver humanitarian aid".[43][44]
On 15 April, Israeli foreign ministerGideon Sa'ar secretly travelled to the UK and met foreign secretary David Lammy. They discussed "the ongoing hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas, the need to protect aid workers, end the humanitarian blockade of Gaza and stop settlement expansion in the West Bank". Sa'ar had recently attempted to justify Israel's decision to cut off aid to Gaza.[46] Reportedly, Lammy gave Sa'ar his personal assurance that he would not be arrested.[47]
May 2025
On 19 May, the governments of the UK, France and Canada issued a joint statement condemning Israel'srenewed offensive against Gaza. They called for Israel to immediately stop its military operations and to immediately allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, saying "The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable". The statement condemned Israel's plan to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip as "abhorrent" and said it would breach international law. The governments warned they would take "concrete actions" if Israel continued its "egregious actions".[48]
On 20 May, the UK suspended talks on afree trade deal with Israel, summoned the country's ambassador, and imposed new sanctions againstIsraeli West Bank settlers.[49] Foreign Secretary David Lammy called Israel's renewed offensive in Gaza "morally unjustifiable". Referring to Israeli plans to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip, Lammy said "It is extremism, it is dangerous, it is repellent, it is monstrous, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms".[50]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu berated UK Prime Minster Keir Starmer and the leaders of France and Canada. Netanyahu accused them of siding with Hamas, "emboldening Hamas to continue fighting". He said "When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice, you're on the wrong side of humanity and you're on the wrong side of history".[51]
June 2025
On 10 June, the UK government imposed sanctions on two Israeli ministers,Itamar Ben-Gvir andBezalel Smotrich, for "repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities" in the occupied West Bank. They were banned from entering the UK and had any assets in the UK frozen. The joint move by the UK, Norway, Canada, Australia and New Zealand was condemned by Israel and the US. Smotrich replied: "Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and we cannot do it again".[52]
July 2025
In early July, the UK government banned the pro-Palestiniandirect action groupPalestine Action as a terrorist group under theTerrorism Act 2000. UN experts, civil liberties groups, and hundreds of lawyers condemned the ban as draconian and said it sets a dangerous precedent by conflating protest with terrorism.[53]
On 21 July, the foreign ministers of the UK and 27 other countries issued a joint statement condemning Israel'said distribution in Gaza. It said:
The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrifying thatover 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli Government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable.[54][55]
On 29 July, Starmer announced that the UK will recognisePalestinian statehood at the next meeting of theUN General Assembly unless Israel commits to a ceasefire, among other conditions regarding aid.[56]Ghazi Hamad of Hamas welcomed the announcement saying it was "one of the fruits ofOctober 7".[57]
On 3 September, theScottish Government announced a ban on funding to "arms companies whose products or services are provided to countries where there is plausible evidence of genocide being committed" including Israel. In announcing the ban, First MinisterJohn Swinney said that, "The world cannot wait for a final court ruling before acting. The signs are clear." The decision was praised by the Scottish heads of Oxfam, Amnesty International, andGlobal Justice Now, who all urged the UK government to act as well.[58]Scottish Parliament also voted for a boycott of Israel and any companies providing it military support.[59]
Protests against the banning of Palestine Action continued into September 2025, with close to 1,000 arrests in London alone on the first weekend of the month,[60][61] days after the International Association of Genocide Scholars had backed a resolution stating that Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of the crime.[62][63] Of those arrested on 6 September 2025, almost 100 were in their 70s, and 15 more were in their 80s.[64]
On 21 September, Starmer announced that the United Kingdom formally recognised Palestine as an independent state.[65]
Pro-Palestinian protest at Trafalgar Square, 3 August 2024
Unlike the United States, the UK government does not give weapons directly to Israel but rather issues licences for British companies to sell weapons, with input from lawyers on whether the licences comply with international law.[66] Israel used British-made weapons and military equipment in the war.[67][68][69] British companies supply less than 1% of Israel's military imports.[9] About 15% of the components of each IsraeliF-35 fighter aircraft are made by British companies.[70]
In response to the13 July 2024 al-Mawasi attack, the UK-based organizationMedical Aid for Palestinians released a statement saying, "The UK Government must now act urgently to suspend arms sales to Israel and prevent further atrocities."[73] Following an ICJ advisory ruling that Israel was violating international law,Philippe Sands stated that the UK should stop arming Israel.[74] In August 2024, Foreign Office official Mark Smith resigned over the UK's continued arming of Israel despite its alleged breaches of international law.[75]
In early-September 2024, the UK suspended 30 out of the 350 military export licenses to Israel, having concluded there was a "clear risk" they "might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law".[76]
In June 2025, Britain'sHigh Court ruled that the British government's decision to allow the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel is lawful.[77]
Surveillance flights over Gaza
The Royal Airforce (RAF) has conducted hundreds of surveillance flights over Gaza since December 2023 using Shadow R1 spy planes located atRAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The flights have been carried out almost daily by unmanned aircraft. According to theMinistry of Defence the aim of the flights was to gather intelligence on theIsraeli hostages in Gaza.[78] Any information on their whereabouts will be shared with Israel.[79] Between December 2023 and June 2024, more than 250 RAF flights over Gaza have been recorded.[80] By March 2025, the UK conducted over 500 spy flights over Gaza.[81]
The Shadow is flown by14 Squadron, based atRAF Waddington. Additionally, Poseidon P-8 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and RAF Rivet Joints, electronic surveillance aircraft, have also operated in the region.[80]
In October 2023, the Ministry of Defence announced that it is willing to share intelligence related to war crimes with theInternational Criminal Court (ICC). The MoD has denied providing targeting information to the Israeli military or that RAF aircraft have been used to transfer weapons to Israel.[78] In October 2024, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed ForcesLuke Pollard said that the surveillance flights were “solely tasked to support hostage rescue.”[82] Efforts by parliamentarians, likeKenny MacAskill andImran Hussain, to probe the true purpose of these flights have been repeatedly blocked by the government.[81]
For 2024–2025, the UK committed £129 million in aid to the Occupied Palestinian territories. This included £34 million for UNRWA.[84]
In February 2023, the UK'sRoyal Air Force beganairdropping aid into northern Gaza, inaccessible by land or sea, with help from theRoyal Jordanian Air Force.[85] On 25 February the government pledged a further £4.25 million in sexual and reproductive aid to Palestinian women, projected to reach around 1 in 5 women in Gaza.[86]
Views of parties and politicians
This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(May 2025)
In the aftermath of theOctober 7 attacks, UK Prime MinisterRishi Sunak pledged the United Kingdom's support for Israel and declared that Israel "has an absolute right to defend itself".[87] Sunak backed calls for humanitarian pauses to allow for aid to be brought into the Gaza Strip during theGaza conflict, although he initially rejected calls for a full ceasefire as he argued that this would only benefit Hamas.[88] However, Sunak later condemned the high number of civilian casualties during the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and called for a "sustainable ceasefire" in which all Israeli hostages are returned to Israel, attacks against Israel cease and humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza.[89] His government supports thetwo-state solution as a resolution to the conflict.[90][91]
Since the outbreak of the war, Sunak's government pledged millions of pounds in humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza[92] and pushed for the opening of theRafah Border Crossing to allow for the evacuation of British nationals and the provision of aid to civilians.[93] Sunak also deployedRoyal Navy andRoyal Air Force assets to patrol the easternMediterranean Sea with the stated purpose of supporting humanitarian efforts and monitoring threats to regional security.[94] Sunak's administration implemented sanctions against leading figures in Hamas andPalestinian Islamic Jihad, including Hamas co-founderMahmoud al-Zahar,[95] as well as imposing travel bans against Israeli settlers involved in violent activities in theWest Bank.[96]
Sunak reaffirmed his support for humanitarian pauses and an eventual ceasefire in the war in Gaza ahead of a debate on the subject on 21 February, but argued that an immediate ceasefire would not be successful and would not be in anyone's interest.[97] The following day, theScottish National Party tabled anopposition day amendment calling for an immediate ceasefire. Sunak's government tabled an amendment supporting an eventual ceasefire while emphasizing its support for Israel's right to self-defence and opposition to Hamas.[98] However, in a break with Parliamentary convention, Speaker of the HouseLindsay Hoyle chose to select a non-binding Labour Party amendment calling for an immediate ceasefire to be voted on first, which led to the government withdrawing its amendment and the Labour amendment being passed without a vote taking place.[99][100] Amidst the ensuing controversy, Sunak described Hoyle's actions as "very concerning" but did not support calls from within the Conservative Party for the Speaker to be ousted.[101]
When theInternational Criminal Court prosecutorKarim Ahmad Khan announced that he would seek to charge Israeli presidentBenjamin Netanyahu with war crimes, Sunak denounced the move as "unhelpful" and accused Khan of drawing a moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas.[102]
David Cameron
Cameron meets with Netanyahu whilst visiting Jerusalem, 24 January 2024
Foreign SecretaryDavid Cameron visited the site of theBe'eri massacre on 23 November to meet Israeli foreign ministerEli Cohen. Afterwards, he met the Israeli prime ministerBenjamin Netanyahu to discuss among other urgent matters, facilitating further aid toGaza.[103] Cameron said in an interview with the BBC that he told Israeli officials that "they must abide by international humanitarian law" and that the number ofPalestinian casualties was "too high". He also said that the "settler violence" against Palestinians in the occupiedWest Bank is "completely unacceptable".[104] Cameron backed a "sustainable ceasefire" in theGaza war on 17 December, called for more aid to reach Gaza, and called for the Israeli government to "do more to discriminate sufficiently between terrorists and civilians". He, however, rejected calls for a "general and immediate ceasefire", differentiating this from the "sustainable ceasefire" he called for alongside German foreign ministerAnnalena Baerbock.[105]
In January 2024, he expressed concern about potential breaches of international law by Israel, specifically addressing the need for Israel torestore water supplies to Gaza.[29] Cameron said in the same month that "Israel is acting in self-defence after the appalling attack on October 7" and denied that Israel is committingwar crimes in Gaza. He dismissed South Africa'sICJ genocide case against Israel as "nonsense", saying that Israel is "a democracy, a country with the rule of law, a country with armed forces that are committed to obeying the rule of law".[30]
Cameron announced in late January that the government would consider recognisingPalestine as a country, while also adding that would help to make a two-state solution "irreversible".[106]
Cameron claimed that in July 2024 he had been preparing to sanction Israeli ministersItamar Ben-Gvir andBezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians, but his attempts had been derailed by the general election.[115]
She later describedsubsequent pro-Palestine marches during theIsrael–Gaza war as "hate marches (...) chanting for the erasure ofIsrael from the map" containing a "large number of bad actors who are deliberately operating beneath the criminal threshold".[118] In criticism of marches proposed to take place on Armistice Day, she cited "reports that some of Saturday's march group organisers have links to terrorist groups, including Hamas" and compared it tomarches in Northern Ireland.[119]Scotland's First MinisterHumza Yousaf called for her resignation and accused her of "fanning the flames of division".[120] The Labour Party and some police officers said that Braverman's writing had led to far-right supporters attacking police on 11 November.[121]
Braverman wrote an opinion piece that was published inThe Times on 8 November which included a statement that there was "a perception that senior police officers play favourites when it comes to protesters" and were tougher on right-wing extremists than pro-Palestinian "mobs".[122]The Guardian reported that the Prime Minister's office had asked for changes to be made to the article, but not all were implemented.[121] Braverman was dismissed as Home Secretary in thecabinet reshuffle of 13 November 2023. According toThe Guardian, the trigger for her sacking was herTimes article.[121]The Telegraph throws doubt on this view, reporting thatDavid Cameron was offered the role of foreign secretary on 7 November 2023, the day before Braverman'sTimes article was published.[123]
Other Conservatives
In the first month of the war, Conservative MPPaul Bristow wrote to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asking him to call for a ceasefire – an act for which his party sacked him from his government role as ministerial aide.[124][125]
ConservativeBen Wallace, former-Secretary of State for Defence, said Israel's war tactics "will fuel the conflict for another 50 years [and] are radicalising Muslim youth across the globe."[126]
Labour
Keir Starmer with Israeli PresidentIsaac Herzog at 10 Downing Street, September 2025
Under pressure from party members to back a ceasefire,[138] in the third week of the war, Starmer adapted the official Labour position to one critical of Israeli military bombardment, but falling short of calling for a ceasefire.[139] In December 2023, Starmer said there needed to be "a sustainable ceasefire as quickly as possible". In February 2024, the Labour Party called for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire".[140]
Keir Starmer
Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a call to Benjamin Netanyahu, October 2024Keir Starmer meeting withMahmoud Abbas,President of Palestine, September 2024
After theHamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which began theGaza war, Labour leader andLeader of the OppositionKeir Starmer expressed support for[Israel, condemned Hamas' attack, and said, "This action by Hamas does nothing for Palestinians. And Israel must always have theright to defend her people."[141][142] In an interview withLBC on 11 October 2023, Starmer was asked whether it would be appropriate for Israel tototally cut off power and water supplies to the Gaza Strip, with Starmer replying that "I think that Israel does have that right" and that "obviously everything should be done within international law".[143][144] On 20 October, after criticism and resignations of Labour councillors, Starmer said that he only meant that Israel had the right to defend itself.[144][145] Starmer had said that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas for future attacks, instead calling for a humanitarian pause to allow aid to reach Gaza.[146] As of 6 November 2023, 50 of Labour's councillors had resigned over the issue.[147]
On 16 November 2023, Starmer suffered a major rebellion when 56 of his MPs (including ten frontbenchers) defied a three-line whip in voting for aScottish National Party (SNP) motion proposed byStephen Flynn to support an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza.[148][149] Prior to the vote, Starmer stated that Labour MPs with positions in his Shadow Cabinet would be sacked if they voted in favour of the ceasefire vote.[148] This then led to the loss of ten frontbenchers, including eight shadow ministers.[148] In December 2023, Starmer followed Sunak in changing his stance by calling for a "sustainable ceasefire as quickly as possible", which also came after theForeign SecretaryDavid Cameron's same change in position. Starmer stated his support for a "two-stage", "two-state solution".[150][151][152] The Labour Party under Starmer suspended several parliamentary candidates and MPs, includingGraham Jones,Andy McDonald, Azhar Ali andKate Osamor, for allegedly making anti-Semitic comments about Israel during the Israel-Hamas war, or for describing its conduct asgenocide.[153][154] On 18 February 2024, Starmer called for a "ceasefire that lasts" and said it must "happen now".[155][156][157]
David Lammy
Lammy with Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Israel on 14 July 2024Lammy with Palestinian Prime MinisterMohammad Mustafa, July 2024
Shadow Foreign SecretaryDavid Lammy issued a statement condemning the 7 October attacks as "unprovoked".[158] In a speech at aLabour Friends of Israel event shortly after the attack, Lammy said “We hold on to the ideal of a two-state solution and we say to Hamas, your actions have set back the cause of peace. Free the hostages. Let them come home. Put down your weapons. Because as surely as night follows day, we say, of course Israel has a right to defend itself.”[159] During a visit to Israel he called for "[h]ard diplomacy...with all governments in the region" to deliver a humanitarian pause and secure the release ofIsraeli hostages in Gaza.[160] When asked to comment on Israel'sbombing of the Jabalia refugee camp in November, Lammy said that the bombing was morally wrong but added "if there is a military objective it can be legally justifiable".[161] Lammy abstained from voting on a Parliamentary motion to call for a ceasefire in the conflict, but later supported an immediate ceasefire in an April 2024 speech.[158]
As Foreign Secretary, Lammy met with Israeli political leaders to push for a deal between Israel and Hamas for the release of hostages.[162] After a Foreign Office internal review found a "serious risk" that Britain's arms exports to Israel were being used in violation of international law, Lammy suspended 30 export licenses for drone and aircraft components.[38][163]
Lammy supported the International Criminal Court's request for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, stating that "Democracies that believe in the rule of law must submit themselves to it".[158] After the ICCissued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, Lammy announced he would continue meeting with Netanyahu for ceasefire negotiations but would order his arrest if he entered the UK.[164]
On 17 March 2025, in response to questions asked of him in the House of Commons, Lammy twice stated that Israel'sblockade of humanitarian supplies into Gaza was a "breach" ofinternational law. This was the first time that a member of the UK Government had stated that Israel was in breach of international law.[165] However, Keir Starmer's office publicly rejected Lammy's statement that Israel had breached international law by blocking Gaza. Starmer's office stated that it was up to the Foreign Office to decide whether Lammy should apologise for his criticism of Israel.[166] On 18 March 2025, Lammy toldBloomberg it was a "matter for the court" to decide if Israel had breached international law.[167]
George Galloway
In January 2024,George Galloway announced that he would stand in theRochdale by-election the following month, for his party; theWorkers Party of Britain.[168] He was elected in apolitical upset after Azhar Ali, the Labour candidate, lost the support of his party due to comments made regarding theHamas-led attack on Israel.[169][170] Galloway won almost 40% of the vote and overturned a Labour majority of 9,668.[171] The Israel–Hamas war dominated the campaign. In his election speech, Galloway said "Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza. You will pay a high price for the role that you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on in occupied Gaza, in the Gaza Strip".[172][173][174]
Pro-Palestine demonstration inEdinburgh, 2 December
As a result of the Gaza war, nationwide protests occurred across the UK. Thesedemonstrations occurred as part of a broader movement ofGaza war protests occurring around the world.
In the following weeks during Israel's counterattacks onGaza, a number of pro-Palestinevigils, rallies and marches were held throughout the UK. On 9 October, theStop the War Coalition andPalestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) attended a demonstration in which hundreds marched through London'sKensington High Street and outside theembassy of Israel. Demands were made for an "Intifada revolution". PSC said in a statement that Hamas's attack had to be understood in the context of decades of Israeli occupation and, for an end to violence from Israel and Palestinians, the root cause, Israeli apartide, needed to end.[175][176] Three people were arrested at the protest.[175] The largest demonstrations were held in London, with people from across the country in attendance: thousands marched on 15 October 2023,[177] 100,000 on 21 October,[178] 70,000 on 28 October,[179] 30,000 on 4 November[180] and 300,000 on 11 November.[181] The 11 November march was one of the largest in the UK in years,[182][183] with some estimating it was the largest since the2003 protest against the invasion of Iraq.[184]
Pro-Palestinian protest in London, 11 November 2023
On 26 November 2023, between 50,000 and 60,000 people joined in a march in London to protest against a rise inhate crimes against Jews since the attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel on 7 October.[223][224] On 14 January 2024, approximately 25,000 people attended a rally in support of Israel inTrafalgar Square, calling for the release of the hostages held by Hamas.[225][226]
Protests directed at politicians
Pro-Palestinian protesters holding a sign critical of both Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak
Pro-Palestine protesters expressed their disagreement and disapproval of political parties' and politicians' positions on Israel's actions towards Palestinians.[227][228][229] Protestors chanted "Shame on you" at Conservative MPMichael Gove,Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities andMinister for Intergovernmental Relations, as he was ushered throughLondon Victoria shortly after a sit-in at the station.[230] Protesters interruptedYvette Cooper's speech, holding up "Ceasefire now" signs, during theKing's Speech debate in theHouse of Commons as she spoke about the crisis in Israel.[231] Protesters demonstrated outside Labour's London headquarters, chanting "Keir Starmer, you can't hide, you're endorsing genocide" and calling for the party to "change their policy ... and to demand an immediate ceasefire".[227]
Following a parliamentary vote on a ceasefire, from which the majority of Labour MPs abstained, MPs'constituency offices were targeted.Jo Stevens, one of the abstaining MPs, had the word "Murderer"graffitied on herCardiff Central office, and stickers and posters were stuck up saying the MP had "blood ... on her hands" and supported the killing of babies.[228] Protesters demonstrated outside the office ofPeter Kyle, Labour MP forHove, who also abstained on the vote for a ceasefire. The protesters left a list of demands at the MP's office, including that the MP denounce Israel's "illegal use of excessive force", call for an immediate ceasefire and demand a stop to arms exports to Israel.[232]Steve McCabe'sBirmingham Selly Oak office was another outside which protesters gathered, this time calling for the MP'sdeselection.[233] Hundreds of people marched through Labour leaderKeir Starmer's constituency and protested outside his office, critical of his handling of the crisis.[229][234] 100,000 signed a petition to expelTzipi Hotovely.[235] Protesters interrupted an event held byAngela Rayner, with one woman telling Rayner, "You call yourself a modern-day feminist, I don’t think so."[236] In January 2024, the speech of Labour's Shadow Foreign SecretaryDavid Lammy was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.[237] In March 2024, a group of women protesting outside parliament shaved their heads in solidarity with the women of Gaza.[238]
Amnesty International put up mock signs reading "Genocide Avenue" on the street outside the Israeli embassy in London.[239] In April 2024, protestors rallied outside theOxford Union which was hostingNancy Pelosi; Pelosi's speech was reportedly drowned out by the sound of the protestors before being disrupted by two members of the audience with Palestinian flags who were later removed by police.[240]
Analysis
Yasmine Ahmed, the director ofHuman Rights Watch in the UK, stated that the government was employing double standards for Russian military activities in Ukraine and Israel's actions in Gaza.[241]
According to a December 2023YouGov poll commissioned byMedical Aid for Palestinians and theCouncil for Arab-British Understanding, 71% of the British public believe that there should definitely (48%) or probably (23%) be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, while only 12% though that there should definitely not (6%) or probably not (6%) be an immediate ceasefire. Additionally, the poll found that 17% of the British public approve of the British government's handling of the conflict, while only 9% approve of the oppositionLabour Party's handling of the conflict, revealing that there is "a total and utter lack of public confidence in the way both the UK government and the Labour Party have handled this".[242]
Declassified UK revealed in February 2024 that 20% ofLabour Party MPs have been received funding from pro-Israel groups or individuals, totaling £280,000 in donations.[243]
^"Braverman uses Northern Ireland example during criticism of 'hate marches'".Independent. 8 November 2023.Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved9 November 2023.They are an assertion of primacy by certain groups — particularly Islamists — of the kind we are more used to seeing in Northern Ireland. Also disturbingly reminiscent of Ulster are the reports that some of Saturday's march group organisers have links to terrorist groups, including Hamas.
^Stacey, Kiran (18 January 2024)."Unions tell Starmer of members' anger over Gaza ceasefire position".The Guardian.Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved19 March 2024.Union leaders have told Keir Starmer his position on Gaza risks alienating millions of Britons, telling the Labour leader their members are increasingly angry about his refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.
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