Anti-Israel activists crash stage at event with British trade minister over arms sales
Protesters slam exemption of F-35 parts from partial UK halt of arms sales to Israel; Jonathan Reynolds, who signed off on the pause, says parts ‘integral to our national security’
British Business and Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds was interrupted by two pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters opposing arms sales to Israel who stormed the stage as he was about to speak at a think tank event in London on Thursday.
London for a Free Palestine, one of three campaign groups that rallied outside Chatham House where Reynolds was speaking, said the on-stage protest was intended to keep pressure on the UK government to halt all arms exports to Israel — especially of parts for F-35 fighter jets.
“They have not stopped the trade in F-35s,” one individual shouted. One protester accused the UK government of being complicit in genocide.
Reynolds remained in his seat and said Britain had suspended arms exports to Israel.
“We haven’t suspended F-35s because they’re integral to our national security and particularly the defense of Ukraine,” he said.
Later, he told the audience the exemption for F-35s had been announced in the British parliament.
Pro-Palestine activists disrupt UK business secretary Jonathan Reynolds' speech, protesting his approval of F-35 parts exports to Israel pic.twitter.com/1oNYJK7Lw8
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“Specifically on arms exports, we have a very stringent regime which we have applied as a government, and that has led to restrictions, particularly in relation to arms exports to Israel,” Reynolds said.
In September, the UK government suspended 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel. The decision was formally made by Reynolds, with the backing of UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
The suspensions affected components for Israel’s aerial systems, including fighter jets, helicopters, and drones. The halt largely passed over the F-35 program, a multinational project that pools parts before disbursing them to participating countries, including Israel.
The UK government said at the time that it was impossible to suspend the export of F-35 parts without prejudicing the jets’ entire global program.
British exports amount to less than one percent of the total arms Israel receives. Unlike the United States, Britain’s government does not give arms directly to Israel, but rather issues licenses for companies to sell weapons, with input from lawyers on whether clients comply with international law.
Data released in June by Britain’s previous government showed that the UK, like other countries, drastically reduced arms sales to Israel after the war in Gaza was sparked on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages.
However, the UK’s Conservative government at the time denied that it had changed its position on licenses to sell arms to Israel. Soon after the Labour Party won an election in July, Lammy said he would update a review on arms sales to Israel to ensure they complied with international law.
Lazar Berman contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.