London, August 13 (RHC)-- A protest outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office has demanded that his government impose an arms embargo on Israel over its war crimes in Gaza.

Palestine Solidarity demonstrators amassed outside the British prime minister's office, renewing their demands that Britain cease its arms exports to Israel.

One protester, Bill Stevens, told reporters: "While Gazans from the Al-Daraj neighborhood were preparing themselves for Friday Prayers, an Israeli air raid took place, killing scores of Palestinians at the Al-Taba’een school.  I think they should stop all arms sales, arms transfers to Israel."

It's just because of basic humanity, there are people being killed in their thousands and over the 10 months of slaughter.

According to the UK strategic export licensing criteria, no weapons should be exported if there is a clear risk of them being used for serious violation of international humanitarian law.

Another protest organizer, Shamuil Joarder from the Friends of al-Aqsa, said: "It's ridiculous that genocide is taking place, and yet after 10 months, there's still no concrete arms embargo.  We know that if this was any other nation, there would be an arms embargo right now.  How can 40,000 Palestinians be killed and we're still thinking about it?" 

The UK has traditionally been one of Israel's top three military supporters.  Britain supplies about 15% of the components used in the F-35 war planes that Tel Aviv uses to bomb Gaza, a lethal trade that's earned Britain over $620 million in revenues in nine years. 

Lindsay German, an organizer with the Stop the War Coalition, told reporters in London: "What will it take to get a change in policy from the U.S., from Britain, from France, from Germany?  It's clear that whatever we do, whatever Netanyahu does, he's got a blank check from these people.
Whatever they say, they are prepared to put up with him and to accept his policies, regardless (of) how bad it is."

More than 100 British MPs have urged the UK government to immediately ban arms sale to Israel.
The general sense here is one of frustration, but also one of cautious optimism that sustained public pressure might force the government to change course.

For many months now, these protesters have been calling on the British government to release its legal advice on whether or not to continue selling weapons to Israel over its genocide in Gaza.