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British law enforcement arrested 55 demonstrators during an anti-Israel protest outside the Parliament building in London on Saturday, citing their support for Palestine Action, a group recently banned under anti-terrorism legislation aimed at protecting national security.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests took place at Parliament Square, where protesters waved placards backing the outlawed organization, with some wearing keffiyehs as symbols of solidarity.
Police established a controlled “sterile area” around the protest to prevent clashes with a counter-demonstration demanding the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Additional arrests included eight people at a related protest in Truro, Cornwall. Similar demonstrations occurred in Manchester, Bristol, and Edinburgh.
Organized by the campaign group Defend Our Juries, the protests were intended to defy the recent proscription of Palestine Action, which Parliament approved in early July.
The ban followed an incident where activists from the group vandalized two Royal Air Force aircraft at a southern England base, causing damage estimated at £7 million ($9.55 million). Four suspects connected to the attack remain in custody.
Since the ban took effect on July 5, authorities have warned that publicly supporting Palestine Action is a criminal offense, with membership punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The group condemned the ban as authoritarian, with a legal challenge scheduled for London’s High Court on Monday.
Palestine Action has frequently targeted British defense firms and other companies linked to Israel, leading to numerous arrests nationwide since the proscription’s enforcement began.
