Two activists from the British civil resistance group, Youth Demand, were arrested after staging a protest at London’s National Gallery. The demonstrators pasted a photo of a mother and child from Gaza over Pablo Picasso’s painting ‘Motherhood’ to voice their opposition to the UK’s arms sales to Israel. The protest took place on October 9 and involved 23-year-old NHS worker Jai Halai and 21-year-old Politics and International Relations student Monday-Malachi Rosenfeld. The activists placed the image, captured by Palestinian journalist Ali Jadallah at Al-Shifa Hospital, on top of Picasso’s 1901 painting and poured red paint on the gallery floor. Security staff quickly intervened, detaining the pair. Fortunately, the artwork, which was protected by glass, remained unharmed.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Youth Demand explained the reasoning behind the protest: “Our government is arming Israel to carry out genocide against Palestinians and conducting unrestricted violence in Lebanon. It’s time for more than just diplomatic gestures—Britain must impose a two-way arms embargo to halt the displacement, destruction, and death.” The protestors highlighted the UK’s role in supplying weapons to Israel, which they believe is contributing to the ongoing conflict.
Halai, in a recorded video, expressed her motivation for participating in the protest, citing the struggles healthcare workers face in war-torn regions. “It’s been over a year of witnessing my colleagues in the healthcare field being decimated—by bombs, bullets, and operating on starving children without medical equipment,” she said, calling for an immediate arms embargo on Israel. Halai emphasized the devastating impact the conflict has had on medical professionals and civilians in affected areas.
Rosenfeld, who is Jewish, also explained his reasons for protesting, specifically denouncing what he referred to as a genocide in Gaza. “I want the world to know this isn’t being done in the name of Judaism, and I advocate for a free Palestine,” he stated. Rosenfeld also criticized UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer for his stance on the conflict, arguing, “When Keir Starmer says Britain stands with Israel, he’s wrong. We know this is genocide, not ‘self-defense,’ and as the people of Britain, we are saying enough is enough.”
This protest follows a similar high-profile incident at the National Gallery in 2022, when activists from the group Just Stop Oil poured soup over Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers.’ Both events have drawn significant attention to the intersection of art and political activism. The most recent demonstration comes at a time of heightened tensions, with the UK government recently suspending some arms export licenses to Israel amid concerns over violations of international law.
Youth Demand’s protest highlights the increasing pressure on governments, particularly the UK, to reconsider their arms trade relationships with Israel. The activists argue that supplying arms to Israel only fuels violence and prolongs the conflict, calling on the British government to take stronger measures to promote peace and protect civilian lives.
As protests and debates over the UK’s involvement in international conflicts continue, this demonstration serves as a reminder of the power of symbolic actions in raising awareness about global issues. Despite the arrests, the activists succeeded in bringing their message to the forefront, sparking conversation about the UK’s role in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
