Three Arrests Made at UK Protests Against Israeli Arms Sales; Workers for a Free Palestine Escalate Tactics
On Wednesday, protests took place in London and other parts of the UK against the sale of UK arms to Israel.
Three arrests were made in London when protesters blocked access to a building housing the Department for Business and Trade.
Over 1,000 workers and trade unionists also protested at sites linked to BAE Systems.
Police in Glasgow also dealt with protesters.
The group Workers for a Free Palestine said they were escalating their tactics by targeting these locations on the same day.
The group stated that the majority of the British public want arms sales to Israel banned, but the government and Labour Party continue to ignore this.
Protesters in Glasgow called for an arms embargo against Israel, accusing the UK government of complicity in Israeli genocide through the supply of British-made arms.
They specifically mentioned the use of a drone partly produced in the UK that killed three British aid workers.
The protesters aim to disrupt business as usual for BAE Systems, the manufacturer, to slow down the trade of weapons to Israel.
Their long-term goal is a government-imposed arms embargo.
BAE Systems, a defense company, acknowledged the right to peaceful protests and assured compliance with regulations regarding their arms exports.
They expressed concern over the violence in the Middle East and hoped for a swift end to the conflict.
The company emphasized operating under strict regulations and full compliance with defense export controls.