Critics argue that the ban on the activist group Palestine Action suppresses free speech and aims to limit pro-Palestine protests.
In London, police have confirmed the detention of at least 200 individuals during a demonstration advocating for Palestine Action, which was designated a “terror organization” by the UK government last month.
The Metropolitan Police reported on Saturday that the arrests in Parliament Square were made for expressing support for a group deemed proscribed by law.
“It will take time, but anyone showing support for Palestine Action will face arrest,” the police stated in an earlier message on X.
This wave of arrests is part of a broader backlash against the government’s prohibitive measures against Palestine Action, with critics asserting that this infringes on constitutional rights to free speech and the right to peacefully protest, particularly in light of Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Under the Terrorism Act of 2000, any affiliation with or support for Palestine Action is now a felony, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years.
Al Jazeera correspondent Sonia Gallego, reporting from the scene, noted that the risk of arrest has not dissuaded supporters of Palestine Action from voicing their opinions.
“A simple act such as wearing a t-shirt proclaiming ‘I support Palestine Action’ or even holding a sign could lead to arrest,” Gallego remarked.
Prior to Saturday’s demonstration, over 200 individuals had already been apprehended in various protests throughout the UK opposing the ban, which came into effect in July.
More than 350 academics globally recently signed an open letter supporting a “growing movement of collective defiance” against the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to classify Palestine Action as a terrorist group.
The signatories expressed their concerns about the repressive impacts already seen from the ban, particularly its effects on universities in the UK and beyond.
Notable figures such as Israeli historian Ilan Pappe and political theorists Michael Hardt and Jacqueline Rose were among those who endorsed the letter.
A separate demonstration organized by the Palestine Coalition also took place in London on Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police reported one arrest from that march, where an individual was detained for holding a banner supporting Palestine Action.
Amnesty International UK condemned these arrests, asserting that such actions violate the UK’s international commitment to uphold rights related to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
BREAKING: Quakers are now being arrested at Parliament Square for holding signs that read “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
There are still hundreds here united in their opposition to genocide and the unjust ban on the direct action group. pic.twitter.com/YcfrV8vZ4l
— Defend our Juries (@DefendourJuries) August 9, 2025
Palestine Action has notably targeted UK-based companies connected to Israel, employing tactics such as vandalism and blockade to protest what they describe as complicity in Israeli war crimes in Gaza, where ongoing military actions have reportedly led to tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties since October 2023.
The UK government’s decision to impose the ban followed an incident in June where Palestine Action activists caused damage at a military airbase, impacting aircraft used in air-to-air refueling.
Manaal Siddiqui, a spokesperson for the group, asserted that these planes are equipped to refuel Israeli combat aircraft.
Additively, aircraft from the Brize Norton base are said to operate flights to a British Air Force base in Cyprus, where intelligence shared with the Israeli government is reportedly collected.