Over 100 arrested across UK amid protests in support of banned group Palestine Action

With placards which read “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,” supporters of the banned Palestine Action group were surrounded at London’s Parliament Square beside the Mahatma Gandhi statue on Saturday. Police officers searched the bags of those detained, while some were carried away, a few others were handcuffed.

Sky: More than 100 people protesting against the ban of Palestine Action have been arrested in towns and cities across the UK.

In London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Truro. The group became a proscribed terrorist organisation two weeks ago.https://t.co/2TzwtLwcRx

— Defend our Juries (@DefendourJuries) July 19, 2025

Metropolitan police added that nine people were further arrested for supporting Palestine Action group, when a large-scale march was organised to Whitehall by the Palestine Coalition, The Guardian reported.

One further arrest was made following the last update bringing the total to 66, the details of which are below.

This will be the final post on today’s protest updates thread. pic.twitter.com/1sFPtfU1n0

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 19, 2025

Defending the Palestine Action group, Defend Our Juries in a post on X stated, “The UK government is complicit in Israel’s genocide against Palestinians. They are attempting to silence those who expose this complicity.”

The Prime Minister Keir Starmer-led UK government proscribed Palestine Action as a terror group under the Terrorism Act of 2000, which made the support or membership of the group a criminal and punishable offence.

A report by The Guardian quoted a woman who was detained in Parliament Square and said, “We demand that Palestine Action is de-proscribed. Our government is not only arming a genocide, they are using terrorism laws to silence people who speak out.”

The Israel-Gaza war, which started with militant group Hamas’ surprise attack on Tel Aviv in October 2023, doesn’t seem to be moving towards a ceasefire as key demands by both the warring factions have not been agreed upon.