Local activists and students clashed with Cambridge’s MP over UK arms exports, during a meeting with Cambridge Stop The War (CSTW).

The group had previously launched an open letter campaign calling on Daniel Zeichner to “address the genocide in Gaza” including the UK government’s role in “perpetuating these atrocities”. Following this campaign, the MP agreed to meet with the CSTW to discuss their concerns.

The letter was signed by multiple groups in Cambridge, including Cambridge University Palestine Solidarity Society, Cambridge University Islamic Society, and Downing Islamic Society.

During the meeting the group criticised Zeichner for a lack of action over arms exports to Israel, stating that he, along with Westminster as a whole, had been “debating things over and over again, but no hard actions”.

The meeting then ended abruptly, with the MP signalling that the call had gone on for 20 minutes while one of group members spoke calling on the MP to “acknowledge that there is a genocide taking place in Gaza and the West Bank”.

Following the call, CSTW put out a statement that Zeichner “deflected” and “refused to condemn Israel’s war crimes” or “admit his government continues to arm Israel”.

Daniel Zeichner is the Labour MP for Cambridge, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015. He currently holds the Government post of Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.