UK police are preparing to arrest anyone participating in demonstrations supporting Palestine Action during a scheduled protest this weekend, as the group remains banned under terrorism laws. The warning comes ahead of a mass action organized by campaign group Defend Our Juries, which aims to protest the proscription of Palestine Action.
According to sources familiar with police planning, authorities are taking a zero-tolerance approach. “They will be arrested. However we have to do it, they will be arrested for breaking terrorism laws,” one insider told the media. Arrests could lead to terrorism-related convictions, officials warned.
Protest Plans and Law Enforcement Strategy
The Metropolitan Police is monitoring the protest planned for Saturday, though the force reportedly expects turnout to be in the low hundreds—despite organisers anticipating a larger crowd. The protest is separate from another large pro-Palestinian march and anti-immigration rallies taking place the same day, leaving police resources stretched.
The Met may call on mutual aid from other police forces to manage the potentially volatile mix of demonstrations. Officials are also weighing tactics used in prior mass-arrest situations, including those deployed during Extinction Rebellion and Whitehall protests, where individuals were quickly arrested, identified, and then released on bail.
Tensions on All Sides
The police risk criticism from both ends of the political spectrum: pro-Palestinian activists may accuse the Met of being heavy-handed, while right-wing critics could claim the force is too lenient if demonstrators break terrorism laws without repercussions.
Defend Our Juries: “This is not a plot”
In response to reports suggesting an intent to overwhelm police and court systems, Defend Our Juries dismissed such claims as false. A spokesperson stated: “There are serious inaccuracies in the Telegraph’s reporting. This is not a Palestine Action campaign. It is our campaign, and it is openly organized in protest of what we see as an unjust law.”
They emphasized the transparency of their movement, saying all materials—including the action briefing—are public and accessible. “This is an open and democratic action. If police arrest peaceful protesters, that’s on them—not us,” the statement added.
The demonstration is set to become a flashpoint in the UK’s broader debate over protest rights, anti-terrorism powers, and the legal limits of political expression amid rising tensions over Palestine.
