The UK government has arrested over 500 protesters in London for supporting the banned group Palestine Action and for demonstrating against the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza.
Of the total arrests, 521 were made for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action. Additionally, six protesters were arrested for assaulting police officers, two for breaching the Public Order Act, and one each for obstructing a constable and for a racially aggravated public order offence.
These demonstrations are the largest since the UK government designated Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act in July. The government also made membership or support of the group a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The most recent protests were organised by the group Defend Our Juries and saw hundreds of demonstrators gather at Parliament Square in London on Saturday. Protesters held placards reading, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” The protests followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that military operations in the Gaza Strip would intensify, with the aim of complete occupation.
The protests followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that military operations in the Gaza Strip would intensify, with the aim of complete occupation.
The Metropolitan Police said its counter-terrorism units are bringing charges against individuals accused of supporting Palestine Action.
A demonstrator, Richard , who was arrested earlier, said, "I was arrested for holding up a banner that these people are holding up – 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' I have been charged under the Terrorism Act, Section 13."
What is Palestine Action and why was it banned?
Palestine Action is a pro-Palestine, anti-war activist group founded in 2020. The group’s stated goal is to end what it describes as “Israeli apartheid.”
Since the war in Gaza began, Palestine Action has organised hundreds of protests across London. These demonstrations aim to disrupt businesses and companies accused of profiting from the conflict.
It has taken direct action against various arms manufacturers, which it accuses of complicity in what it calls the “Gaza Genocide.” One of its main targets has been Elbit Systems, a company that manufactures weapons for the Israeli Defence Forces.
Between 2020 to 2022. The group made many break-ins at Elbit’s Ferranti site in Oldham. After repeated vandalisation attacks the facility was closed in 2022.
In June 2022, the group broke into the Thales UK factory in Glasgow and caused more than 1 million pounds of damage with smoke bombs and property destruction. In a high-profile incident, activists infiltrated the heavily guarded Royal Air Force base, RAF Brize Norton, and sprayed red paint on two military refuelling planes.
They claim the refuelling planes were being used to support Israeli fighter jets and to conduct intelligence-gathering missions on behalf of Israel.
This after Open-Source Intelligence network shared a flight record of British planes flying over the Gaza Strip. Experts allege these sorties were used to transmit real-time data to the Israel Defense Forces.
But, the UK government hit back and declared Palestine Action a terrorist organisation. Citing the infiltration of the Air Force base, the government said the group was involved in serious crimes.
The current protests are demanding that Palestine Action be taken off the terrorist list.
Protesters argue that the law is being misused to suppress freedom of speech and expression.
Another demonstrator said, "I've come here to support the campaign to get Palestine Action de-prescribed. It's outrageous that they have been judged to be a terrorist organisation when what they have been trying to do is to stop the production of arms, and I share their aims. So, I came today. I haven't signed up for the protest, but I have a card in my bag and I have a marker, and at any point I might get the marker out and draw the same slogan. I haven't decided yet."
Many human rights organisations have accused British authorities of abusing their statutory powers. The United Nations Human Rights Office has raised concerns, stating that criminalising the Palestine Action group infringes on the exercise of fundamental freedoms.
