Hundreds Arrested in London Protests Against Palestine Action Ban

On August 9, 2025, British police arrested over 365 individuals in London during protests against the recent ban on the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action. The demonstration, organized by Defend Our Juries, took place in Parliament Square, where participants displayed signs reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."

The UK government proscribed Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 in July, following activists' break-in at RAF Brize Norton, where they vandalized military aircraft to protest Britain's support for Israel's actions in Gaza. The ban criminalizes membership or support for the group, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison.

Critics, including Amnesty International, have condemned the ban as an overreach that infringes on freedom of expression. The UN human rights chief described the decision as "disproportionate and unnecessary," urging the UK to rescind the ban.

Palestine Action's co-founder, Huda Ammori, has been granted the right to challenge the ban in court, arguing it unlawfully restricts civil liberties.

The Metropolitan Police stated that anyone expressing support for Palestine Action during the protest was arrested or in the process of being arrested. Organizers contend that the high number of arrests highlights the law's impracticality and undermines its credibility.