Palestine protesters paste image from Gaza over famous Picasso painting - before lobbing red paint under the artwork

The group is calling for a two-way arms embargo on Israel and for the new UK government to halt all new oil and gas licences granted since 2021.

The image used was taken by Palestinian journalist Ali Jadallah and shows a distressed and bloodied pair, coated in debris. The caption for it reads: "A mom holds [her] injured child after an Israeli attack, as Israeli airstrikes continue on twelfth day, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City."

One of those who participated in the action today said: "I’m taking action because as a Jew, I feel like it’s my duty to call out the genocide being committed in Gaza.

"I want the world to know this isn’t in the Jewish name and I want to see a free Palestine. When Keir Starmer says Britain stands with Israel he’s wrong. We know very well that this is a genocide, not 'self defense' and we as the people of Britain say enough is enough."

A spokesperson from the National Gallery told GB News: "At approximately 11.50am this morning (October 9 2024) two people entered Room 43 of the National Gallery. One was apprehended after initially attempting to attach what appeared to be a piece of paper to an artwork. Some paint was thrown on the floor.

"Police attended and arrested the pair. The room re-opened to the public at 2.30pm.There has been no damage to any paintings."

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Another who participated said: "I’m taking action with Youth Demand because at this point it’s been over one year of seeing my colleagues in the healthcare field decimated.

"Decimated by bombs, by bullets and by having to operate, with no medical equipment, on starved children.

"We need a two way arms embargo on Israel now; 87 per cent of the British public want this and never before have they been more disillusioned with our Government and political class who do not represent us. We need a revolution in our democracy.

"Direct action is what gave us our rights and is the only way to move us towards proper justice. Civil resistance is our duty as young people: to defend those without a voice today and to defend our futures. It’s time to take to the streets; bring on the revolution!"

A Youth Demand spokesperson today said: "Our government is arming Israel to carry out a genocide against Palestinians and killing without restrain in Lebanon.

"It can’t be all carrots and no sticks: a two-way arms embargo is the least Britain can do to stop displacement, destruction and death! Young people will continue to resist genocide-as-usual, sign up at youthdemand.org."

At least 45 people were killed in Israeli military strikes on Gaza in the past 24 hours, Palestinian medics said earlier today, as Israeli forces pressed on with a raid on the Jabalia refugee camp in the enclave's north.

The Israeli military says the raid, now in its fifth day, is intended to stop Hamas fighters staging further attacks from Jabalia and to prevent them regrouping. It has repeatedly issued evacuation orders to residents of Jabalia and nearby areas, but Palestinian and UN officials say there are no safe places to flee to in the Gaza Strip.

Israel began its offensive after Hamas-led militants stormed across the border into southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

The ensuing offensive in Gaza has killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, the enclave's health ministry says. Most of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced and humanitarian conditions have deteriorated sharply.

Fewer than half of Gaza's hospitals remain even partially functioning after a year of Israeli bombardments. Palestinian and UN officials say there are no completely safe places in Gaza.