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PM condemns activists outside Starmer's home demanding end to Israeli arms sales

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A small group of activists unfurled a Palestinian flag and banner outside the Labour leader
A small group of activists unfurled a Palestinian flag and banner outside the Labour leader's house

Rishi Sunak has condemned protestors who staged a demonstration outside Keir Starmer's home demanding an end to arms sales to Israel.

A small group of activists unfurled a Palestinian flag outside the Labour leader's north London house alongside a separate banner, which read: "Starmer stop the Killing".

But in response the Prime Minister said: "I don't care what your politics are, no MP should be harassed at their own home. We cannot and will not tolerate this." Home Secretary James Cleverly added: "This is unacceptable. There is no excuse for harassing and intimidating politicians and their families in their homes."

It comes amid mounting alarm over the targeting of politicians' homes by protesters. In February, Tory former minister Tobias Ellwood called in police protection after pro-Palestinian activists staged a demo outside his house while he was inside with his children. Last summer, a group of Greenpeace protesters were arrested after draping the PM's Yorkshire manor house in black fabric with the sign: "Rishi Sunak - oil profits or our future?" Mr Sunak was at the time on holiday in California with his daughters and wife Akshata Murty.

The organisation Youth Demand, which is demanding Labour and the Tories commit to imposing an arms embargo on Israel, said it was behind the protest outside Mr Starmer's home on Tuesday.

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On Twitter, the organisation said: "Whilst 12,000 children in Gaza are slaughtered, UK Labour continue to allow the selling of arms to Israel. We are calling on their humanity". The protesters, who placed children's shoes next to Mr Starmer's doorstep, said the Labour leader had "enormous power" and influence to call for an end to the sale of arms.

The Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday evening three people were arrested under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, a power designed to "stop the harassment of a person at their home address".

Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: "Politicians and their families should be able to go about their daily lives without feeling threatened or intimidated. It's completely unacceptable for protest to take place in the vicinity of a politician's home.

"There are plenty of appropriate places to protest in London, anyone who chooses to target a private home can expect to be dealt with by officers. In line with that approach officers have made three arrests today under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. This power stops the harassment of a person at their home address if an officer suspects it is causing alarm or distress to the occupant."

On Monday 12 people were also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after activists calling for an arms embargo on Israel sprayed Labour's headquarters in central London with red paint.

In the last six months, over 33,000 people have been killed in Gaza and the UK Government is facing pressure to suspend arms sales to its Israeli ally. Labour has stopped short of calling for an immediate end to arms sales, but said they should be suspended if Government lawyers have "found a clear risk of serious breaches of international law" and demanded the legal advice is published.

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said last week: "It's totally wrong that the Foreign Secretary has gone silent on the question of whether or not Israel is complying with international humanitarian law, after saying he'd get new advice nearly a month ago. There are very serious accusations that Israel has breached international law, which must be taken into account."

He added: "The law is clear. British arms licences cannot be granted if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Labour's message to the government is equally clear. Publish the legal advice now. If it says there is a clear risk that UK arms might be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law, it's time to suspend the sale of those arms. If David Cameron has received this advice, he must act on it.”

Ashley Cowburn

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