Pro-Palestine protesters conflict with police outdoors Foreign Office HQ
Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters blocked workers from getting into the Foreign Office today during a fiery demonstration, which saw police arresting nine people.
Dozens of activists from Workers for a Free Palestine have blockaded the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) HQ today.
Masked protesters armed with provocative placards, Palestine flags and banners, are demanding the UK bans arms exports to Israel.
But the heated rally prompted action from the Met Police, with officers seen clashing with protesters in the street.
Dramatic images from the mayhem show a number of activists being dragged along the floor by cops, after demonstrators allegedly refused police orders to move on.
Pro-Palestine demonstrators have clashed with police in central London today
Officers were seen dragging activists off after they blockaded the Foreign Office HQ
Activists are calling for a suspension of arms sales by Britain to Israel amid the on-going war in Gaza
Dozens of activists from Workers for a Free Palestine have blockaded the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) HQ
Another image appears to show one officer grappling with a mask-wearing protester, while others are seen surrounding another demonstrator.
One protester dressed in a niqab headscarf was seen lighting a red smoke grenade as the chaos outside the FCDO continued to rage.
While others behind a large banner demanding the UK to ‘stop arming Israel’ where heard chanting.
One furious demonstrators was pictured yelling at a police officer as his colleagues continued to remove some protesters from the scene.
The trade unionist activists are calling on Foreign Secretary David Lammy and the new Labour Government to suspend the sale of weapons to Israel.
Foreign Office workers were reportedly blocked from getting into the FCDO building in central London.
One protester was seen setting off a red smoke flare during the fiery demonstration today
This man was seen being dragged away by two police officers while being photographed
While this woman appears to be directing her anger towards one officer, yelling at him
Officers from the Metropolitan Police face off with some protesters who were blockading the FCDO building in London on Wednesday morning
Demonstrators were armed with megaphones and banners saying ‘free Palestine’ today
The Met Police said nine people have so far been arrested following this morning’s disorder.
Describing the mayhem, a spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Shortly before 8.30am on Wednesday, July 24, a group of protesters arrived at the Whitehall end of King Charles’ Street and stood in the road blocking pedestrian and vehicle access.
‘Officers responded and Public Order Act conditions were imposed on them, requiring them to leave the central arch at the entrance to the street clear.
‘When the group failed to comply with the conditions, officers intervened and made nine arrests, quickly restoring access.
‘Protesters remain in the area but officers are monitoring the situation and ensuring roads are not blocked again.’
The protest comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues with his assault on Gaza, in a bid to root out Hamas terrorists.
Troops from the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) last night pushed deeper into the eastern neighbourhoods of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Terrified Palestinians were seen fleeing their their homes on Tuesday as IDF tanks punched into the area.
It followed a warning by the Israelis for locals to evacuate the area ahead of their latest offensive.
The tanks pushed into the Khan Younis town of Bani Suhaila and several districts nearby were bombed for a second day, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to seek refuge elsewhere.
Some of the demonstrators were armed with placards during today’s rally in London
Pictured is a scene from this morning’s demonstration in central London
Protester came armed with banners and placards, with many wearing face masks during the rally
One protest is seen being surrounded by police during the rally
Pictured are some of the banners held up by protesters in London this morning
Israel said its action – the latest in a series of major assaults in recent weeks in parts of Gaza where it had long since claimed to have rooted out Hamas – was intended to prevent the militant group’s fighters from regrouping.
Labour’s Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy is now being urged to practise what he preached during his time in opposition and meet his own demands by publishing legal advice on UK arms to Israel.
During the rally in London, one Workers for a Free Palestine activist was heard saying that if the advice ‘confirms Israel has breached international law as the shadow foreign minister, Alicia Kearns, says it does – the government should immediately halt arms exports to Israel’
The group also called for the withdrawal of the legal attempt to bar the international criminal court from issuing an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu.
Mr Lammy, who is on a diplomatic trip to India, has been accused of sitting on his hands over the continued licensing of UK arms exports to Israel.
Interviewed on BBC Radio on Tuesday, Labour cabinet minister Liz Kendall dodged answering whether Keir Starmer’s government would publish the official legal advice on whether there was a risk British arms exports to Israel could be used in Gaza, in violation of international humanitarian law.
During their time in opposition, Labour had repeatedly pressed the Conservatives to publish this legal advice. But so far it has failed to follow its own guidance, campaigners have said.
Mr Lammy claimed he was not allowed to see what legal guidance was given to previous governments, and said he had initiated his own quasi-judicial process. ‘I want my deliberations to be as transparent as possible,’ he said.
Labour has currently only reversed one policy towards Gaza by saying the UK would be restoring funding to the Palestinian relief works agency Unrwa.
‘It is clear after a fortnight that the government could have acted by now, but is instead prevaricating as hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza die. Labour talks about due process, but the people of Gaza cannot wait. Palestinians are demanding answers now,’ a source at Wednesday’s protest told the Guardian.
MailOnline has approached the FCDO for comment.
