Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets outside Downing Street on Friday evening, urging the UK government to immediately stop selling arms to Israel.
The protest, organised by a coalition of advocacy groups, responded to growing anger over Britain’s military exports amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
People from across the country travelled to central London to take part. Waving Palestinian flags and holding signs demanding justice and an end to the violence, the crowd raised their voices in chants calling for a ceasefire and government action. Campaigners from several organisations, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Stop the War Coalition, and others, led the event under the message “Stop Arming Israel – Words Are Not Enough.”
Protesters gathered not just to show solidarity with Palestinians, but also to pressure UK leaders to match their public statements with meaningful policy changes. The message from speakers was clear: words without action are no longer acceptable.
One of the most passionate speeches came from Sireen El Hamamy of the Palestinian Forum in Britain. She criticised what she described as the UK’s double standards—speaking out against civilian suffering in Gaza while continuing to allow arms exports that may fuel the violence. She pointed to the suffering of children and civilians, describing the dire conditions in Gaza, from hunger to disease, and accused Western leaders of ignoring these tragedies due to political convenience.
Protesters also questioned the UK’s commitment to human rights, pointing out the contradiction between its support for international law and its ongoing military trade with a country accused of violating it.
This demonstration is one of several recent protests in the UK linked to the situation in Gaza. Activists have increasingly turned their attention to arms sales, with some calling for legal reviews of export licences and others demanding a full embargo.
As the rally ended, many in the crowd vowed to keep pushing for change, saying they would not be silent while civilians continue to suffer. The protest may have lasted only a few hours, but for those who stood outside Downing Street, the fight for justice is far from over.