British police guard genocide profiteers, jail Gaza protesters

Much has been made in the media about Keir Starmer and the British government’s impending recognition of a Palestinian state, within the framework of a two-state solution. However, Starmer’s pledge to recognise the Palestinian Authority has not resulted in an easing of political repression in Britain.

On Sept. 6, the London Metropolitan Police arrested 890 people for joining a Palestine Action protest. Britain’s parliament banned Palestine Action in July under anti-terrorism legislation. That’s right, according to the British government, to stand against genocide is to be a terrorist. 

Palestine Action is not a paramilitary group, nor a neo-Nazi sect, nor a polygamist cult. They are a direct action group that targets the British arms industry with protests and civil disobedience for their fueling of the genocide in Gaza. The group explicitly describes itself as “non-violent yet disruptive.” This is strangely restrained for people that the British government has labeled as evil terrorists. 

All 890 demonstrators could face charges that result in up to 14 years in prison — for protesting the brutal and escalating U.S.-backed genocide in Gaza

Starmer and his parliament have made their position clear with this repression. As long as pro-Palestine activists face police brutality and terrorism charges, recognition of a Palestinian state is performative. If Starmer and company really wanted to support a Palestinian state, they would stop supplying arms to Israel. They would stop joining U.S. bombing campaigns against Yemen. They would cease trade with any country that maintained diplomatic relations with Israel or the United States. 

Parliament and Starmer have not taken those steps and will not take those steps. They are completely at the will of the U.S. imperialists and Britain’s own banks, both of which have raked in profits from arms sales to Israel.  Barclays alone has spent billions in investments and loans to defense companies providing Israel with planes, tanks, and artillery. 

Have no doubt, Keir Starmer and the British capitalist establishment wholeheartedly support the U.S.-Israeli genocide imposed on Palestine. Capitalist politicians like Starmer are simply servants of the banks, the defense conglomerates, and other billionaires. Starmer is not a friend of Palestine. 

Starmer’s police arrested the friends of Palestine by the hundreds on Sept. 6 for simply demonstrating against a holocaust.