Hundreds Arrested at London Palestine Action Protest

Police arrested between 365 and 466 protesters in central London during demonstrations against the UK government's recent ban of the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws. The ban, enacted in early July following activists' damage to military aircraft, criminalizes membership or support of the group and has drawn comparisons to previous terror organization proscriptions. Demonstrators staged acts of civil disobedience and carried signs opposing genocide and supporting Palestine Action, arguing the law violates freedom of expression. Organizers and police disputed both attendance and arrest numbers, with critics claiming the law is unworkable. The police operation involved over 850 officers and cost taxpayers up to £3 million, contributing to the significant expenses of policing pro-Palestinian protests since October 2023. The mass arrests highlight ongoing tensions over the UK's Israel policy and debates about national security versus civil liberties.