British authorities detained 77 individuals during a protest outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, where hearings began against people charged for backing Palestine Action, a group banned as a terrorist organisation in the UK.
The demonstration, organised by the activist group Defend Our Juries, aimed to defend the legal rights of those accused and challenge the UK government’s stance on Palestine Action. The group contends the proscription undermines civil liberties and shields Israel amid its ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed arrests under the Terrorism Act, which criminalises support for Palestine Action. Protesters, some waving Palestinian flags, gathered to highlight violence in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, areas experiencing increased settler aggression backed by Israeli military forces.
This rally marked the first major public show of support for Palestine Action since Andy Burnham assumed office as UK Prime Minister. Burnham has acknowledged previous Labour leadership missteps on Gaza but faces criticism for actions seen as insufficient, including allowing US military use of UK bases in strikes against Iran.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called on Burnham to lift the ban on Palestine Action, describing the crackdown as incompatible with democratic principles. Polanski, the party’s first Jewish leader, has also condemned media attempts to downplay his identity amid his pro-Palestinian stance.
Defend Our Juries highlighted the harsh penalties faced by protesters, citing cases such as an elderly woman in a wheelchair potentially facing 14 years in prison for alleged terrorism support, illustrating the contentious nature of the UK’s anti-terror laws.
