The Palestine Solidarity Group Carlisle and District have welcomed the ICC's arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Force head Yoav Gallant, and presumed-dead Hamas leader Mohammed Deif.

The arrest warrants were welcomed by the campaign group during their weekly vigil in Carlisle city centre.

The group stated that nearly 70 percent of those killed in Gaza over the past 13 months have been women and children, and highlighted the civilian death toll.

According to the group, since October 7 last year, more than 43,000 Palestinians have died due to Israeli bombings, with child deaths making up 44 per cent of the total.

The group also stressed the severe injuries inflicted on civilians, children in particular.

With the death of Sinwar, Hamas leader, and the issuance of ICC arrest warrants, the group believes a ceasefire is long overdue.

They are urging Cumbrian MPs to push for an immediate halt to the conflict.

The Palestine Solidarity Group is also leading a petition drive, urging MPs to end the arms trade.

They argue that as Israel's leaders have now been accused of war crimes by the ICC, continued UK support for Israel's military actions could lead to complicity charges.

The group is also campaigning for the local council to withdraw their pension funds from the Israeli arms trade and from companies allegedly profiting from the illegal occupation of the West Bank.