UK Police to Arrest Palestine Action Supporters

Jack Hunter

Summary

London police to resume arresting Palestine Action supporters after court ruling delay.

Why this matters

This development highlights tensions between legal challenges, governmental policy, and civil rights, emphasizing the complex implications of anti-terror laws.

London Metropolitan Police announced it will resume arrests of those supporting Palestine Action after earlier halting the practice. In February, police decided not to arrest supporters following a High Court ruling that the group’s ban as a terror organization was unlawful. However, Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman stated on Thursday that the police’s approach changed due to the government’s appeal of the ruling, which could delay the judgement’s effect for months.

“It is still a criminal offence to support Palestine Action,” Harman said, emphasizing that police must enforce current laws, which may involve arrests. Earlier in the day, activists associated with Palestine Action spoke at a news conference about the impact of their imprisonment and hunger strikes.

In June, the UK government, led by Labour, classified Palestine Action as a terror group under anti-terrorism legislation, grouping it with organizations like al-Qaeda. This followed an incident where activists entered an RAF base, vandalizing military aircraft. Palestine Action claimed responsibility.

The High Court had ruled this designation unlawful, but Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an appeal against this decision. Since its founding in 2020, Palestine Action has staged protests against businesses linked to the Israeli military. The ban prompted legal challenges, human rights criticism, and protests, warning it criminalized political dissent.

Numerous arrests have occurred since the ban, targeting individuals allegedly supporting the group.

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