LONDON (AP) – On Saturday, over 20 individuals were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offenses during a protest in central London supporting Palestine Action. The demonstration took place in Parliament Square, mere hours after the pro-Palestinian activist group was banned by the British government under anti-terrorism laws, a move that was solidified at midnight following a failed court challenge by the group.
Supporters of Palestine Action, who argue the group employs non-violent civil disobedience, condemned the government’s decision as authoritarian. Demonstrators gathered beneath a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, holding placards that read, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” In response to the protesting crowd, the Metropolitan Police intervened, and several individuals were apprehended, including a woman who was seen lying on the ground in handcuffs before being taken to a police van.
The Metropolitan Police clarified in a statement that as Palestine Action is now a proscribed group under the Terrorism Act 2000, membership and support of its activities constitute criminal offenses that could lead to imprisonment for up to 14 years. To date, there are 81 organizations listed as proscribed under this UK statute, which includes groups such as Hamas and al-Qaida.
The decision to classify Palestine Action as a proscribed group was prompted by a series of protests, including a notable incident on June 20, where activists forcibly entered a Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. They vandalized two military planes using red paint and crowbars, protesting against the British government's military support for Israel amidst the ongoing war in Gaza. The damage from this incident was estimated at approximately 7 million pounds (around $9.4 million).
In connection with this incident, four individuals aged between 22 and 35 were charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place for purposes detrimental to the UK's interests. These individuals will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London on July 18, having entered no pleas at their initial hearing.
This series of events highlights the escalating tensions surrounding Palestine Action and the UK government's stringent measures against groups they perceive as threats to national security. The controversial classification of Palestine Action has sparked a debated discourse on civil liberties, government authority, and the right to protest in the current sociopolitical climate.
