The 45th London Marathon was dramatically interrupted this morning after supporters of the youth-led civil resistance group Youth Demand staged a protest demanding an immediate end to UK arms sales to Israel.
At around 10:35am, two demonstrators leapt over the barriers at Tower Bridge during the men’s elite race, throwing red powder paint across the course and briefly halting the runners. The activists wore t-shirts emblazoned with the message: “Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel.” City of London Police swiftly arrested the pair.
The group, Youth Demand, is calling on the UK government to impose a full trade embargo on Israel and to force fossil fuel elites to compensate communities most harmed by environmental destruction.
Activists Speak Out
Before the protest, 18-year-old Willow Holland from Bristol explained her motivation:
Thousands are being killed in Gaza, and our government is making no effort to stop it. Marches and rallies have failed. We need resistance to prevent complicity in genocide. Profit should never come before human rights.”
Joining Willow was Cristy North, a live-in carer from Nottingham, who said:
Palestinians are running out of time. Our taxes are funding weapons for a genocidal state. I refuse to be complicit in these atrocities.”
Youth Demand Statement
A spokesperson for Youth Demand said:
This is a race against time. Gaza is running out of food. Millions are starving under Israeli bombardment with UK complicity. Keir Starmer has crossed the line from denial to complicity. History will judge those who stood by.
The group urged the public to join their movement through their website, youthdemand.org.
Background Context
The protest comes amid warnings from the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) that food supplies in Gaza have been fully depleted due to Israel’s blockade. The WFP says over 400,000 people now face catastrophic hunger.
Since March 2nd, Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid to Gaza, defying international court orders. Reports estimate that over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s military campaign.
The UK government faces growing criticism over its military cooperation with Israel. British surveillance flights over Gaza and allegations that UK bases in Cyprus are facilitating Israeli air strikes have raised serious questions about the UK’s role.
Meanwhile, British MPs visiting the West Bank recently described being detained and threatened by Israeli forces, warning that tensions there could escalate dramatically.
Growing Youth Resistance
Youth Demand vowed that young people will not “stand by while war crimes are committed” and called for mass civil resistance to end what they describe as “the systematic annihilation of an entire people.”
“Only collective action can halt this genocide,” they said. “We refuse to be led by war criminals.”
The London Marathon later resumed after the disruption, with additional security measures put in place.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that two individuals are in custody in connection with the incident.
