Calls to halt arms exports to Israel Protest blocks access to Foreign Office

Pro-Palestinian activists blocked entrances to the Foreign Office in protest at the perceived failure of the new Labour government to do more to change UK policy towards Israel's offensive in Gaza.

- Patrick Wintour

As many as 300 people sealed off access to the Foreign Office yesterday morning with a large banner saying "Genocide Made in Britain".

Protesters said six activists had been arrested.

Workers for a Free Palestine, which organised the protest, said the aim was to make the foreign secretary, David Lammy, practise what he had preached in opposition, and meet his own demands by publishing legal advice on supplying arms to Israel.

A Workers for a Free Palestine activist said 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".

They also called for the withdrawal of the legal attempt to block the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The protest was also aimed at backing those Labour and opposition MPs calling for a ban on arms sales, as well as in solidarity with Public and Commercial Services Union members in the Foreign Office and Department for Business and Trade.