April 10, 2025
BY ESHERU KWEKU
London, April 10, 2025 – Six Greenpeace activists, including co-executive director Will McCallum, were arrested today following a bold protest at the U.S. Embassy in Nine Elms, London. The arrests came after the group poured 300 litres of blood-red biodegradable dye into the embassy's pond, symbolizing the bloodshed in Gaza, which Greenpeace attributes to U.S. arms sales to Israel.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests on suspicion of criminal damage and conspiracy to cause criminal damage, charges that carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Greenpeace UK defended the protest as peaceful and symbolic, stating that the dye was non-toxic and designed to disperse naturally. Containers used in the protest bore the message "Stop Arming Israel" and were delivered to the embassy disguised as courier bicycles.
Greenpeace Activists Protest Gaza Genocide at U.S. Embassy in London#Gaza #GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/QD58rOSZB3
— Jam UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) April 10, 2025
Images ©Greenpeace
Greenpeace's co-executive director Areeba Hamid condemned the arrests, calling them "further proof that the right to protest is under attack in the UK." She added, "The U.S. government bears a heavy responsibility for the horrors unfolding in Gaza. Their weapons fuel an indiscriminate war that has obliterated tens of thousands of Palestinian lives." Greenpeace has issued an offcial press release via its website.
The protest aimed to pressure both the U.S. and UK governments to impose a total arms embargo on Israel. Greenpeace highlighted that U.S. arms sales to Israel have exceeded $12 billion since October 2023, contributing to the devastation in Gaza, including bombings of schools, hospitals, and residential neighbourhoods.
The U.S. Embassy condemned the protest, citing damage to a 1.5-million-gallon water supply on the property. A spokesperson stated, "While the U.S. Embassy supports the right to peaceful protest, we strongly condemn any acts of violence or property damage."
This dramatic act of dissent has reignited debates about the role of arms sales in global conflicts. Polls indicate that a majority of citizens in both the U.S. and UK support halting arms sales to Israel while the Gaza crisis persists. Greenpeace's protest serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the power of activism to challenge government policies.
