Over 520 individuals detained during Palestine Action demonstration
In a historic turn of events, over 520 people were arrested during a protest in London on August 9-10, 2025, marking the highest number of arrests at a single event in the city since 1961. The demonstrators gathered on Parliament Square in solidarity with the recently banned group, Palestine Action, which has been designated as a terrorist organization under the UK's anti-terror law from 2000.
The protests were a part of a broader wave of demonstrations linked to the Gaza conflict and the UK government’s proscription of Palestine Action, which intensified following events from late 2023 onwards. The police response was significant, involving hundreds of officers, but the authorities admitted they were overwhelmed by the size and determination of the crowd.
The arrests have sparked public outrage and debate over police powers, state overreach, and the legality of the Palestine Action ban. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International have criticized the mass arrests as “deeply concerning,” highlighting images of elderly and disabled protesters being forcibly removed. Amnesty International also condemned the state crackdown and has pushed for a reassessment of the proscription.
Craig Bell, a protester, expressed his disagreement with the ban on Palestine Action, describing it as "absolutely ridiculous." Craig compared Palestine Action to a real terrorist group that kills civilians, stating that it's laughable they're classified as a terrorist group. However, the UK Home Office had previously stated that members of Palestine Action were suspected of carrying out "further serious attacks" involving "violence, serious injury, and substantial damage."
Ten more individuals were arrested for suspected offenses other than supporting a terrorist organization. Membership or support of Palestine Action has been a criminal offense since July 5, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The incident has triggered significant civil rights debates and legal challenges regarding the ban on Palestine Action and police conduct. A judicial review set for November 2025 will assess the lawfulness of the ban; if overturned, arrests made under it could be ruled unlawful.
The Defend Our Juries group, which organized the action in support of Palestine Action, stated they will continue and there's more interest than ever for the next wave of protests in September. Organizers are planning further mass protests in response to the ban and arrests, signaling ongoing resistance. The response to the ban on Palestine Action has been met with criticism, with the Defend Our Juries group calling the event a “major embarrassment” to government officials such as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
References: 1. The Guardian 2. BBC News 3. Al Jazeera
- The protests against the UK government's proscription of Palestine Action, deemed a terrorist organization, have escalated into a general-news and politics issue, with ongoing debates centered around civil rights, state overreach, and the legality of the ban.
- Crime-and-justice concerns have been raised due to the mass arrests during the demonstrations, involving hundreds of individuals, with human rights organizations like Amnesty International labeling the incidents as "deeply concerning."
