A major new poll has revealed that people in the UK overwhelmingly support stopping arms sales to Israel.
Massive Public Support for Arms Embargo and Sanctions
The survey, carried out by a research company, shows that more than four out of every five people want the UK to stop selling weapons to Israel completely. This includes a big majority of those who recently voted for one of the UK’s major political parties during the 2024 general election.
The poll also found that most people want sanctions placed on Israeli government leaders. Sanctions are punishments like travel bans or cutting off business ties. Even stronger still, a large number of people believe Israel should be removed from the United Nations. Only a small part of the public—about 16%—disagreed with this idea.
These views are not just limited to arms and political leaders. The poll also revealed that many people supported broader actions like boycotting Israeli goods. One example is supermarkets removing Israeli products from their shelves, which people supported by two to one. In fact, a major supermarket group in the UK recently voted to stop all business with Israeli companies, a move that reflects growing public sentiment captured in the poll.
The poll also asked about pension money. It showed that most people support taking out investments from companies that are involved in breaking international law when it comes to Palestine. This idea was backed by three people for every one person who disagreed.
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Symbolic Red Line Drawn by Protestors
On Wednesday, 4 June, thousands of protestors gathered outside the UK Parliament. They came with a strong message. They held a long piece of red fabric—one kilometer in length—that formed a giant red line around Parliament. This red line was a symbol of where people believe the UK should draw the line when it comes to supporting Israel.
The protest was timed to happen during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons. That is the time when Members of Parliament ask the Prime Minister questions about the government’s decisions. Protestors hoped that their peaceful message would be noticed and spark change.
They demanded that the UK stop all military support to Israel. Their call was based on recent actions by Israel in Gaza, which they described as genocide. Genocide is when a group of people is targeted for destruction. The red line also symbolized the demand to place sanctions on Israel and to take real action instead of just talking.
The group behind this red line event explained that their protest was backed by the public. The new poll confirmed that the people standing in front of Parliament were speaking for the majority of the country. Most UK residents no longer want their government to support Israel with weapons or trade deals.
Growing Criticism of the UK’s Response
Israel’s military actions in Gaza have drawn widespread criticism across the UK. Reports say that more than 60,000 people have been killed, including around 20,000 children. The destruction of homes, schools, and hospitals has left many without shelter, clean water, or food.
For nearly three months, Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. This blockade has led to deaths from starvation, especially among children. Although some aid is now being allowed in, it is very limited and controlled by the Israeli military. Aid groups have said that even this limited support is not safe, with some people being shot while waiting in line for food.
Inside the UK, lawmakers from all parties have spoken up. They have said that what is happening in Gaza cannot be ignored. A recent poll has shown that these concerns are shared by a large majority of the British public. At the end of May, hundreds of legal experts sent a letter to the UK government. In it, they warned that genocide was taking place in Gaza and that the UK was required by international law to stop it.
The poll results highlight strong public support for taking action, including cutting military and diplomatic ties. These experts said that what the UK is doing now is not enough. They called for trade sanctions and said the UK should stop working with Israel on technology and defense. Another poll finding showed concern over the UK’s “2030 Roadmap” agreement with Israel, which includes cooperation in these sensitive areas.
Despite strong words from the government calling Israel’s attacks “morally unjustifiable,” no legal action has been taken. The UK still sells weapons to Israel and continues other forms of support.
The UK’s High Court is now reviewing whether these arms sales are legal. The review will look into whether continuing to sell weapons to Israel breaks the UK’s own laws and its international responsibilities.
The new poll has shown that the British public does not agree with the government’s actions. The demand for change is growing louder. The strong support for a full arms embargo, along with sanctions and boycotts, reflects a shift in how the UK public feels about its role in the conflict.
This news highlights the growing gap between what the public wants and what the government is doing. The facts from the poll and the voices from the streets show a powerful message: most people in the UK no longer want to support Israel’s actions in Gaza.