Dozens of protesters were arrested outside the US embassy in London on Monday during a demonstration in support of Palestine Action, a group recently banned under the UK’s terrorism laws. The Metropolitan Police detained between 48 and 139 people, according to different reports, with officers continuing to make arrests throughout the afternoon. Many of those arrested were charged with expressing support for a proscribed organisation, an offence carrying a potential sentence of up to 14 years in prison.
The protest, which drew over 100 participants, took place near the embassy in the Nine Elms area of southwest London. Demonstrators held signs with messages such as “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” and chanted slogans including “free, free Palestine.” Officers began making arrests shortly after midday, sometimes physically carrying individuals who resisted. One protester climbed a tree to wave a placard reading “God help us. Teachers who support Palestine. Palestine Action.”
The demonstration was organised ahead of a two-day Supreme Court hearing beginning Wednesday, in which Palestine Action’s legal challenge to its proscription will be heard. The group was banned in June 2025 and placed alongside internationally recognised militant organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah. The government maintains that outlawing Palestine Action is necessary under anti-terror legislation due to the group’s alleged activities.
Palestine Action, established in 2020, aims to end what it describes as global complicity in "Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime." It gained wider attention following Israel’s military operations in Gaza after the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023. The group has targeted British arms manufacturers linked to Israel, particularly the Israel-based defence company Elbit.
Supporters of Palestine Action, including many elderly protesters and Holocaust survivors, argue that the ban is disproportionate and infringes on fundamental human rights. Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, has described the proscription as a severe curtailment of free speech and protest. Attendees like Angie Zelter, 75, and Marji Mansfield, 70, have been arrested multiple times at past rallies and say they remain committed to demonstrating until the ban is overturned. Some critics have expressed concern that the ban and enforcement measures undermine civil liberties.
The UK government and police emphasize that the proscription targets organisations involved in or promoting terrorism, and they maintain that enforcement actions are lawful and necessary. The Court of Appeal upheld the ban in June, requiring the Supreme Court to now examine the legal and human rights implications of the designation. The case has attracted wider public attention, with figures such as Irish author Sally Rooney facing fallout over their support for the group, including restrictions on book sales.
As the legal challenge advances, activists continue to protest and call for the ban to be lifted, asserting that their actions represent legitimate dissent rather than terrorism. The hearings this week will serve as a key moment in defining the boundaries of protest and state security measures in the UK context.