UK Crackdown on Dissent: Dozens Arrested as Protests Erupt Over Palestine Action Terrorist Proscription

LONDON, UK – July 12, 2025 – Over 70 individuals were arrested across the United Kingdom today as protests intensified against the government's controversial decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. The arrests, predominantly in London, Manchester, and Cardiff, underscore a deepening divide between the state's approach to national security and a burgeoning concern for civil liberties among activists and human rights advocates.

The highly contentious proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 came into effect on July 5th, following a parliamentary vote that overwhelmingly supported the Home Secretary's draft order. This move places Palestine Action alongside groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS, making it a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison to be a member of the organization, or to invite or express support for its activities.

The Government's Stance: Protecting National Security

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, in announcing the proscription, stated that Palestine Action had "crossed the thresholds" established in the Terrorism Act 2000 through its "orchestration and enaction of aggressive and intimidatory attacks against businesses, institutions and the public." She cited specific incidents, including an attack on the Thales defence factory in Glasgow in 2022, which caused over £1 million worth of damage, and recent vandalism at Instro Precision in Kent and Elbit Systems UK in Bristol.

The most recent and highly publicized incident, which many believe spurred the government's swift action, was the break-in at RAF Brize Norton on June 20th. Activists allegedly damaged two military planes with red paint and crowbars, causing an estimated £7 million in damage. The government asserts that such acts are not legitimate forms of protest and pose a direct threat to national security, particularly given the military context.

"National security is the first duty of any government," Cooper reiterated, emphasizing a "zero tolerance approach to terrorism, regardless of its form or underlying ideology."

Palestine Action: Direct Action and Disruption

Founded in July 2020, Palestine Action describes itself as a pro-Palestinian protest network committed to "ending global participation in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime" by disrupting companies they accuse of complicity in Israeli military operations. Their primary targets have been British factories of the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, alongside other defence companies like Thales, Lockheed Martin, and Leonardo.

The group's tactics typically involve direct action, including breaking into facilities, occupying premises, chaining themselves to machinery, daubing buildings with red paint, and damaging equipment. While these actions have consistently led to arrests and prosecutions for criminal damage, Palestine Action maintains that their disruptions are "non-violent yet disruptive" and have never intentionally harmed individuals. They highlight their success in 2022, when sustained protests led to Elbit closing its Ferranti site in Oldham.

Activists argue their actions are a necessary response to what they view as the UK's complicity in human rights abuses against Palestinians, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. They emphasize that existing laws are sufficient to deal with property damage and that the use of terrorism legislation is disproportionate and designed to stifle legitimate protest.

Protests and Civil Liberties Concerns

Today's arrests, which included individuals simply holding signs stating "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action," have ignited a fierce debate about freedom of expression and the scope of anti-terrorism laws in the UK. In London's Parliament Square, protesters gathered near statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, silently holding placards, only to be met by a heavy police presence and subsequent arrests under the Terrorism Act. Similar scenes unfolded in Manchester and Cardiff.

Civil liberties groups, including Amnesty International UK, have condemned the proscription as a "disturbing legal overreach" and an "egregious abuse" of anti-terrorism powers. They argue that the UK's definition of terrorism is overly broad and that applying it to a direct-action protest group sets a dangerous precedent.

Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK's Chief Executive, stated, "Whatever MPs may think about whether Palestine Action's tactics are appropriate or not, existing criminal laws, accompanied by human rights protections, were more than capable of responding to them. Instead of taking draconian measures to shut down direct action protesters and criminalise anyone who expresses support for their actions, the Government should be taking immediate and unequivocal action to put a stop to Israel's genocide and end any risk of UK complicity in it."

Critics contend that the government's move conflates civil disobedience with terrorism, thereby chilling free speech and the right to protest against government policy and international events. The concern is that this broad application of the Terrorism Act could be used to silence other activist groups engaging in disruptive, but non-violent, direct action.

The Path Forward

With dozens facing potential charges under terrorism legislation, the legal and social fallout of this proscription is only just beginning. A last-ditch legal challenge by Palestine Action's co-founder, Huda Ammori, to pause the ban was rejected by the High Court, meaning the full weight of the law now applies.

The controversy highlights the complex balance governments must strike between maintaining national security and protecting fundamental democratic freedoms. As the UK grapples with ongoing protests and the ramifications of this unprecedented ban, the debate over the definition of terrorism and the limits of dissent will undoubtedly continue to dominate headlines, shaping the future of protest and civil liberties in the country.