British authorities say at least 60 people are set to face prosecution for backing Palestine Action, the activist group that was banned last month under terrorism laws. Three others have already
been charged.
The group, known for its direct action campaigns against UK companies supplying weapons to Israel, was outlawed on July 7. Since then, more than 700 people have been arrested at protests, many of them simply for holding signs or chanting in support of Palestine Action.
One of the most striking images from these demonstrations came earlier this month: police officers detaining an 89-year-old protester during a “Lift The Ban” rally in London’s Parliament Square.
The Metropolitan Police said on Friday that new systems are now in place to prosecute “significant numbers” of people each week if needed. Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson called the latest charges the “first wave,” warning that many more are likely in the coming weeks.
Critics argue the ban is an attack on free speech. The United Nations, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, and the UK’s own Equality and Human Rights Commission have all expressed concern, saying peaceful protest is being criminalized. The EHRC urged the government to ensure policing remains “proportionate and legally sound,” rather than heavy-handed.
Under the Terrorism Act, convictions for showing support for Palestine Action could lead to up to six months in prison, along with other penalties.
Police Commissioner Mark Rowley praised the swift coordination between police and prosecutors, saying he was proud of the response against what he called “misguided attempts to overwhelm the justice system.”
The Labour government has stood firmly behind the decision. Home Office Minister Yvette Cooper said:
“UK national security and public safety must always be our top priority. The assessments are very clear, this is not a non-violent organisation.”
Officials point to a July break-in at an air force base in southern England, which allegedly caused £7 million in damage to military aircraft. The Home Office accuses Palestine Action of a string of similar actions involving “violence, injuries, and significant damage.”
But Palestine Action insists its campaign is about stopping Britain’s role in arming Israel during its war on Gaza.
The Liberal Democrats have voiced “deep concern” over the use of anti-terror powers against people protesting peacefully, while hundreds of thousands across the UK continue to march demanding an end to UK arms sales to Israel and a ceasefire in Gaza.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to recognize a Palestinian state by September unless Israel moves toward peace. Many activists, however, dismiss this as “too little, too late,” given the scale of suffering in Gaza. Photo by Alisdare Hickson, Wikimedia commons.