Starmer Condemns Gaza Protests, Not UK Weapon Sales to Israel
According to Al-Monitor, Starmer urged students to avoid demonstrations on the anniversary of October 7th, claiming such protests are disrespectful. This comes as the UK, under Starmer's party (historically), remains a significant arms supplier to Israel. From 2015-2022 alone, the UK approved over £1 billion ($1.25 billion USD) in military export licenses to Israel, including components for F-35
fighter jets used in Gaza, as detailed by Campaign Against Arms Trade. Starmer's focus on student 'disrespect' while sidestepping direct criticism of the ongoing devastation, partially enabled by UK arms, paints a curious picture of moral priorities. So, protesting the potential complicity in current events is disrespectful, but enabling the weapons used in those events is merely respectable
statecraft? It appears the line between 'dissent' and 'decency' is drawn precisely where political expediency demands.