Hawzah News Agency- Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the U.K. calling for an end to F-35 exports to Israel have disrupted a talk by Trade and Commerce Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

Reynolds was interrupted by a man accusing him of being “complicit in genocide in Gaza” as he began to speak at a conference on trade hosted by Chatham House think tank in London.

He also chanted slogans including “End the arms support for Israel,” “Stop the crimes in Gaza,” and “Free Palestine.”

Protests against the continued arms exports from the U.K. to the Israeli regime have intensified in recent months, with many human rights organizations, academics, members of parliament and pro-Palestine activists calling for an immediate halt to London’s military cooperation with Tel Aviv.

Last October, two protesters interrupted a speech by British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves at the Labour Party’s annual conference, chanting similar slogans. They condemned the government for arming Israel in the midst of the regime’s war on Gaza.

The action received widespread coverage in the British media and was met with reactions from figures like Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour Party leader, who described the protest as courageous.

Although the Government suspended some arms exports licenses to Israel due to concerns they could be used to violate international law.

Components for F-35 jets were not included in the ban as London claims that this cooperation is in line with international frameworks, but critics and a number of lawmakers consider this approach to be contrary to the U.K.’s human rights commitments.

“We have not suspended F-35s because they are integral to our national security. That decision was laid out very clearly in Parliament, so I’m quite happy”, Reynolds said on Tuesday.

He was then interrupted by another protester waving a Palestinian flag, who was also removed from the venue.

A group of protesters had also gathered outside Chatham House, waving Palestinian flags and carry a banner saying “Stop arming Israel”.

Source: IRNA