UK police arrested dozens of demonstrators in London during a protest calling for the reversal of the recent ban on the campaign group Palestine Action. The protest, held in Parliament Square on Saturday, marked the second consecutive week of public outcry against the government’s increasing clampdown on pro-Palestinian activism.
Authorities confirmed 41 arrests related to individuals allegedly showing support for a proscribed organization, along with one arrest for common assault. This follows the detention of 29 individuals at a similar protest the previous weekend. Among those previously arrested were religious figures and healthcare professionals.
The ban on Palestine Action came after the group staged a high-profile protest in June, breaking into a UK military base and spraying red paint on aircraft in opposition to British support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The legislation, passed in early July, classified Palestine Action under anti-terror laws, placing it in the same category as groups like al-Qaeda and ISIL. Under the new designation, public support or affiliation with the group now carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
Saturday’s demonstration saw participants gather near the statue of Nelson Mandela outside Parliament, many holding placards that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” The protest was largely silent and symbolic, echoing civil disobedience movements of the past.
Critics of the ban argue that equating civil disobedience with terrorism marks a dangerous shift in how dissent is policed in the UK. The use of counterterrorism legislation against a protest movement has been described by advocacy groups as a threat to civil liberties and freedom of expression.
The group Defend Our Juries, which organized solidarity rallies across several cities including Manchester, Cardiff, and parts of Northern Ireland, condemned the arrests and criticized what they described as an authoritarian response to peaceful activism. According to the group, police also made arrests at these parallel protests, though authorities have not officially confirmed those incidents.
Palestine Action, which launched in mid-2020, has focused its efforts on what it calls “direct action” targeting companies involved in weapons production and export to Israel. Its campaigns have frequently disrupted operations at facilities owned by firms such as Elbit Systems and Thales, both of which are accused by activists of contributing to the militarization and oppression of Palestinians.
The British government has defended the ban, pointing to the financial cost of the group’s activities, which are said to have caused millions in property damage. However, civil society groups continue to question the proportionality of the state’s response, especially in light of ongoing allegations by international bodies that Israel’s treatment of Palestinians constitutes apartheid.
As the last of the protesters was removed from Parliament Square by mid-afternoon, the event highlighted growing tensions between state policy and grassroots movements demanding accountability for foreign policy decisions. The confrontation also raises broader questions about the future of protest rights in the UK amid escalating global conflicts.
