Pro-Palestinian demonstrators are met with arrests by London authorities, as the group defies a recently enacted law during their protests.
In the heart of London, the weekend of 7-8 October 2023 promises to be a busy one, with demonstrations related to the war in Gaza, immigration, and asylum-seekers. One of the most significant events took place on Saturday, as pro-Palestinian protesters gathered for a march that ended outside the gates of No. 10 Downing Street.
The protesters were part of Palestine Action, a group that was recently banned by the UK government under terrorism legislation. The ban, enacted in early July 2025, marked a first in Britain, making Palestine Action the first direct-action group to be proscribed as a terrorist organization.
The ban has sparked controversy and criticism, both legally and human rights-wise. Internal government documents suggest a lack of evidence that Palestine Action advocates violence or poses a national security threat. However, over 500 arrests have been made for publicly supporting the group, including many peaceful protesters.
The current legal challenge to the UK government's ban on Palestine Action is ongoing. A High Court judicial review is expected to be heard in November 2025, focusing on freedom of expression violations. Human rights organizations and environmental groups have urged the UK Attorney General to suspend prosecutions against protesters arrested for supporting Palestine Action until the judicial review concludes, citing significant legal and moral concerns.
The government moved to ban Palestine Action after the activists vandalized two tanker planes at a Royal Air Force base, protesting British military support for the Israel-Hamas war. The protesters intentionally flouted the law as part of their effort to force the government to reconsider the ban.
Despite the government's claims, Defend Our Juries, the protest organizers, stated that many arrested were given street bail and allowed to go home. They also emphasized that the meaning of "terrorism" should not be limited to violence against a civilian population but should also include causing economic damage or embarrassment to the powerful.
The Metropolitan Police Service disputed Defend Our Juries' claim, stating that many who gathered were onlookers, media, or people who didn't hold placards supporting the group. The police and protest organizers also sparred over the number of arrests.
The weekend's protests were not limited to central London. British police arrested 365 people in the city during the pro-Palestinian group protest. Meanwhile, police are also preparing for protests outside hotels across the country that are being used to house asylum-seekers. On Sunday, a number of groups are scheduled to march through central London to demand the safe release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza.
The ongoing protests and legal challenges highlight the divisive nature of the issue, with protesters and counterprotesters squaring off outside hotels in recent weeks. Some argue that the migrants pose a risk to their communities, while others decry anti-immigrant racism.
As the legal challenge progresses and the protests continue, the future of Palestine Action and the broader issues of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association in the UK remain uncertain.
- The Seattle government, following the events in London, has initiated a discussion about the possibility of banning certain activist groups under terrorism legislation, drawing parallels with the case of Palestine Action.
- In the realm of Seattle's politics and general news, there have been calls for action against a local crime-and-justice group that has been vandalizing businesses, notably causing economic damage to protest against specific policy issues.
- As the city of Seattle grapples with the rise in crime rates, particularly the actions of this activist group, there have been debates about the balance between maintaining law and order and upholding the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
