Copenhagen activists set up encampments, demand govt stop selling weapons to Israel

By Ebad Ahmed

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AA) – Pro-Palestinian activists have set up a number of tent camps in central Copenhagen since last week, demanding the Danish government stop selling weapons to Israel.

The group behind the encampment at the City Hall Square area, called the Palestine Square - Encampment for Arms Embargo, said in a statement: “When the International Court of Justice states that there is probably a genocide in Gaza, the absolute minimum Denmark should do is to stop all arms trade with the state of Israel.”

The said that they would not leave the encampment until their demands are met by the government.

The group said on social media: “The camp is founded on one basic demand: That the Danish state imposes a full arms embargo on the state of Israel, to end the Danish complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza as well as the ethnic cleansing of historic Palestine.” It added: “While Danish companies such Terma Group and others have contributed to the F-35 fighter jet programme, other Danish companies have supplied anti-drone equipment to the Israeli forces.”

“We demand a total arms embargo towards the apartheid state as the absolute minimum for as far as it is carrying out genocidal acts in Gaza, the West Bank, and occupied East Jerusalem,” the group told Anadolu.

In April, four human rights groups filed a lawsuit against Denmark for not complying with legal obligations in allowing arms exports to Israel.

Amnesty International Denmark, Oxfam Denmark, Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke, and the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq, filed the suit against the Foreign Ministry and the Danish National Police.

The groups said Danish arms parts and other military material exported to Israel are currently being used to commit possible war crimes and contribute to a plausible genocide. The groups said: “This is contrary to the UN Arms Trade Treaty and the EU's Common Rules on Arms Exports, which clearly state that member states are obliged to refuse arms exports if there is a clear risk that the parts will be used to violate international law.”