UK minister’s speaking appearance interrupted by protest against Israel arms sales

LONDON — British business and trade minister Jonathan Reynolds is interrupted by two pro-Palestinian protesters opposing arms sales to Israel who storm the stage as he is about to speak at a think tank event on trade.

London for a Free Palestine, one of three campaign groups that organized a rally outside Chatham House where Reynolds is speaking, says the on-stage protest is intended to keep pressure on the 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 shouts. One protester accuses the government of being complicit in genocide.

Reynolds remains in his seat and says Britain has suspended arms exports to Israel.

????BREAKING: Pro-Palestine activists have disrupted UK business secretary Jonathan Reynolds' speech at Chatham House.

Reynolds has granted licences for F-35 parts that can be sent to Israel to commit atrocities. pic.twitter.com/AB8D05sAcW

— Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) March 27, 2025

In September, the government suspended 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel. At that time, it said parts for F-35 fighters would be largely exempted because it was not possible to suspend these exports without prejudicing the jets’ entire global program.

Reynolds tells the protesters: “We haven’t suspended F-35s because they’re integral to our national security and particularly the defense of Ukraine.”

He later tells the audience the exemption for F-35s had been announced in parliament.

“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 says.