LONDON (AP) — The British government announced on Sunday that police will be granted enhanced powers to regulate recurring protests following the arrest of nearly 500 individuals at a demonstration for a proscribed pro-Palestinian group. The Home Office stated that police will now consider the “cumulative impact of frequent protests” on local communities when determining the conditions for marches and demonstrations.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized, “The right to protest is a fundamental freedom in our country. However, this freedom must be balanced with the freedom of their neighbors to live their lives without fear.” She stated that frequent large protests can leave segments of the population feeling unsafe, particularly among religious communities.
Since the escalation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, there have been regular pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Recent figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, which is affiliated with Hamas, indicate that over 67,000 Palestinians have died as a result of the conflict. Many independent experts and the United Nations regard these figures as the most reliable estimates of wartime casualties.
While most protests have been peaceful, there are concerns that they have permitted antisemitism to proliferate. Some members of the Jewish community have voiced feelings of intimidation, especially regarding chants like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Additionally, a few pro-Palestinian demonstrators have faced arrests for expressively supporting Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization in the U.K.
Critics argue that accusing critics of Israel, particularly in the context of the Gaza conflict, of antisemitism serves to suppress legitimate discourse around the situation. Accusations have arisen from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters against those criticizing Israel's military conduct.
British police and political leaders had encouraged protesters to refrain from demonstrations over the weekend, particularly following a tragic incident at a synagogue in Manchester where two Jewish men were killed. Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged protest organizers to acknowledge the mourning within the British Jewish community and suggested they postpone their events.
Despite these advisories, approximately 1,000 individuals gathered in Trafalgar Square to protest the ban on Palestine Action, a direct-action group known for its vandalism of British military equipment and targeting sites linked to the Israeli military, which has been declared a terrorist organization, thus rendering support for it unlawful.
During the protests, police removed several individuals who were silently holding signs that read, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” Authorities reported making 488 arrests related to support for the banned organization and additional arrests for various offenses. Cumulatively, since the banning of Palestine Action in July, over 2,000 arrests have occurred at demonstrations, with more than 130 individuals charged with terrorism-related offenses.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza intensified following Hamas's attack on Southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals taken hostage. Hamas announced its willingness to return all remaining hostages and the bodies of deceased individuals in coordination with U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiative.
