London police arrested dozens of Palestinian action supporters on Saturday. The arrests took place following protests outside the United States embassy in London and also in Edinburgh. These protests occurred just days before the UK Supreme Court sessions regarding the appeal against the ban on this group.
Details of the Arrests and Protests
The Metropolitan Police began arresting individuals immediately after hundreds of protesters gathered in a collective action outside the United States embassy. According to the police, by Saturday afternoon, 48 people had been arrested, and the forces announced they would continue to arrest individuals. Most arrests were made for supporting a banned organization.
The police also stated that since the ban on the Palestinian action group in July 2025, nearly 4,000 people have been arrested for showing support for this group. This ban has been implemented under anti-terrorism laws, placing the Palestinian action group alongside terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Protesters' Responses and Human Rights Challenges
Many of those arrested, including elderly citizens and Holocaust survivors, displayed slogans such as "I oppose genocide. I support Palestinian action" during their gatherings. Houda Amouri, one of the founders of this group, has challenged the legality of this ban, describing it as "disproportionate" and contrary to human rights.
The Supreme Court sessions are set to take place on Wednesday for two days. This comes after the appeals court ruled in favor of the government in June. Protesters in London on Saturday voiced their objections by holding banners with slogans like "How can trying to stop genocide be a crime?" and "We are protesters, not terrorists."
The motivation of some protesters, including 75-year-old Angie Zelter, was to protest again before the court session despite repeated arrests. She expressed hope that the court would uncover the truths and decide to lift the ban. 70-year-old Margie Mansfield also mentioned her distrust in the judicial system, stating, "If this ban is lifted, it could be a way for the government."
Meanwhile, Selly Rowney, a famous Irish writer, has become embroiled in controversy for supporting Palestinian action. Her publisher announced that due to this support, they are unable to sell her books in the UK.
The Palestinian action group, established in 2020, states its goal on its website, which is blocked for internet users in the UK, as ending "global complicity in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime." This group gained more attention following the bombing of Gaza after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas fighters in southern Israel.
The Palestinian action group primarily focuses its efforts on arms factories in the UK, especially those owned by the Israeli defense group Elbit.
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