Stop the War coalition newsletter 12/09/25
Posted: 12th September 2025
Newsletter 12/09/25
At what point will Israel’s atrocities be too much for Starmer?
In the that week saw huge escalations in attacks on the West Bank and Gaza City and preparations for a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza, and in which Israel bombed both Qatar and Yemen and revealed its approach to peace negotiations is to assassinate the negotiators, Starmer disgracefully welcomed Israeli President Isaac Herzog to London. Rather than arresting the war criminal Starmer’s government provided him with a police escort to shelter him from the huge protests that followed the genocide President around the city.
StW and the Hind Rajab Foundation filed a legal complaint calling for the arrest of Herzog while he was in London. Read the press release here. Yet despite the mountain of evidence against Herzog the police failed to act and the CPS rejected the complaint. As Anna Ost, Senior Legal Officer, European Legal Support Centre, said, ”This is yet another example of UKinstitutions not only providing cover for, but actively enabling genocide.” While the state arrests protestors it protects war criminals.
But we will not be deterred, instead our movement grows bigger and louder. The 11 October national demo in London will be massive. It will mark the second anniversary of Israel’s latest war on Gaza, so let’s make it the biggest show of solidarity for Palestine yet.
With this in mind we are putting out the call All to London for Palestine and asking our supporters to join the bike rides, cavalcades and flotillas coming to London (details to follow).
Start organising now! Get your leaflets and posters from the office,hold street stalls and local meetings to build the demo, book your coaches, join the cavalcades.
Before the London demonstration we will be taking our message directly to Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool on 27 September. Do what you can to join us on the eve of Labour’s conference. Starmer is weak and his MPs know Palestine is losing them support and crucial votes. Keep up the pressure.
If you’re planning to be in Liverpool and are able help with our stall, petitioning or handing out placards please get in touch.
And on 9 October we are calling a No New War or Sanctions on Iran – online public meeting Tuesday 16 September The Israeli attack on Qatar shows just how dangerous Netanyahu’s government is and how volatile the region has become. Not even friends of the West are safe, and Iran has long been an Israeli target. With Britain, France and Germany imposing ‘snapback’ sanctions on Iran the drive to a new war has accelerated. Join Trita Parsi, Iranian-American author, Executive VP of the Quincy Institute and one of the most authoritative voices on US and Iranian relations, in conversation with StW’s Steve Bell on Tuesday 16 September, 6:30pm. Congratulations to all those who campaigned and supported UCU’s Wages not Weapons motion at the TUC, overturning Congress’ previous support for the government’s military spending hikes. Adopting the motion marked a big victory for the anti-war movement. As Lindsey German said, “It was a powerful debate that exposed the lie peddled by the government that growth in communities can be built on increased militarism, and laid bare the real impact that hiking arms spending to record levels of GDP has on working people.” Well done all involved! The timing of the debate could not have been more prescient with the dangerous escalation on the Russia-Poland border earlier in the week. Predictably NATO responded to the Russian drone incursion by calling for yet more increases in weapons, inflaming an already tense situation further. The contrast between Starmer’s response to the Russian incursion into Polish airspace and his response to Israel’s bombing of Qatar could not have been greater. Join the Demo: Trump Not Welcome – 17 September On Wednesday another unwelcome head of state will be visiting these shores: Donald Trump. That will be two genocide-supporting war criminals invited by the Labour government in less than a week. In a big win for the movement we understand Trump is avoiding London! Along with many other partner groups, StW will be protesting against Trump’s unprecedented second state visit. Do what you can to join us. Assemble outside the BBC, Portland Place at 2pm. International Conference Against the War – Paris 4-5 October In Europe antiwar campaigners will be responding to the surge in defence spending at an international peace conference in Paris on 4-5 October. StW, along with MPs, trade unionists and activists from across the continent, will be taking part. Join us at the activist meeting on 4 Oct, and the main conference on 5 Oct. Let us know if you are coming. The conference is open to all and we urge as many activists and trade unionists as possible from Britain to make their way to Paris. We need to send a message to all the European governments: the people of Europe demand peace. Watch this short video on why you should join us in Paris. Tomorrow! March Against Fascism – Midday – Russell Sq Tomorrow! Join the national demonstration against Tommy Robinson, racism and the Far Right. Russell Sq, London – midday – 13 September. This week’s anti-war briefing
