London protesters demand arms embargo as Burnham prepares to take office
Thousands gather in the British capital to call for an end to arms supplies and an end to the conflict in Gaza, citing over 73,000 deaths since October 2023.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in London on Saturday to protest Israel’s war in Gaza, directing their demands at incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The march called for the imposition of an arms embargo on Israel and urged the new government to pressure Tel Aviv to end its military operations in the enclave. The protest comes just days before Burnham is set to officially assume office on Monday, succeeding outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Organisers and speakers at the rally cited casualty figures of more than 73,000 Palestinians since October 2023. Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, led the procession through the capital, describing the conflict as a three-year genocide. In a statement on X, Zomlot asserted that the movement for justice and accountability in Britain and globally is growing louder and stronger.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn attended the demonstration, urging Burnham to end what he termed British complicity in genocide. Corbyn, who was previously expelled from the party by Starmer, stated that campaigners would not disappear and would continue to press for the liberation of Palestine. His presence underscored the deep divisions within the Labour Party regarding its handling of the conflict.
Criticism has mounted against Starmer’s administration for continuing arms supplies to Israel despite allegations of war crimes. Opponents accuse the outgoing government of relying on symbolic measures, such as sanctioning far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, rather than implementing substantive policy shifts. The Labour Party has faced severe internal and external backlash for its stance, with accusations of a lacklustre response to the humanitarian crisis.
Burnham inherits a complex political landscape as he prepares to lead the government. Beyond the intense scrutiny over foreign policy, he must address domestic challenges including a cost-of-living crisis, spiralling student debt, and a shortage of affordable housing. Additionally, the party is dealing with an exodus of members over its previous handling of the Gaza conflict, presenting immediate governance hurdles for the incoming administration.
