Arrests Made as Palestine Action Designated a Terrorist Group

More than 40 individuals associated with the Palestine Action group have been taken into custody by law enforcement after the organization was officially classified as a terrorist group. On July 12, activists congregated in London to voice their opposition, which followed a previous protest where 29 arrests had already been made. During the rally organized by Defend Our Juries, demonstrators paraded in Parliament Square holding cardboard signs that expressed their stance against genocide and support for Palestine Action.

At approximately 1:20 PM, the Metropolitan Police issued a statement via social media, informing the public that they were addressing a demonstration linked to Palestine Action and that arrests were being executed. Police officers were observed escorting protestors away to vans, as they conducted searches of bags and collected identification. According to the Met Police, 41 individuals were arrested on grounds of alleged support for a proscribed terrorist group, in addition to one person charged with common assault. Among those detained was Rev. Sue Parfitt, an 83-year-old former priest.

Defend Our Juries highlighted on social media that over 300 police personnel were present, removing numerous protestors from the vicinity of statues commemorating Nelson Mandela and Gandhi under accusations of "terrorism offences" for simply holding signs in support of Palestine Action. The Metropolitan Police clarified that actions considered supportive of this designated terrorist group encompass any form of chant, attire, or displays, including flags, signs, or logos. As a result, engaging with or endorsing Palestine Action has become a criminal act, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years.

The decision to classify Palestine Action as a terrorist group was prompted by an incident on June 20, when activists infiltrated RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and vandalized two Voyager aircraft with spray paint. In response to this classification, UN experts, civil rights organizations, notable cultural figures, and a significant number of legal professionals have condemned the ruling as extreme, warning that it blurs the line between peaceful protest and terrorism. Palestine Action has now become the first direct action group to be subjected to a ban under the Terrorism Act, placing it alongside notorious groups like Islamic State, al-Qaida, and the far-right organization National Action.