More than 4,000 arrests in Britain after Palestine Action ban, protests intensify standoff with police

Arrests in Britain linked to the Palestine Action group have surpassed 4,000 since the organization was banned in July 2025.

The total rose sharply after Saturday’s protest near the U.S. Embassy in London, where authorities detained 325 people. Of these, 320 were arrested for expressing support for an organization proscribed under terrorism laws.

The demonstration took place in the Nine Elms area, where hundreds of people gathered with banners bearing messages including “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” Protesters also chanted in support of Palestine, while the arrest operation continued into the evening.

Figures from the British Home Office show that 3,630 arrests were made in the 12 months to June 2026. Adding 134 arrests made earlier this year outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court, as well as the latest 325 arrests, brings the total to 4,089.

Among those detained was Charles Allison, a 75-year-old retired lawyer who had travelled from Cumbria to take part in the protest. He said he was concerned about restrictions on civil liberties and expressed hope that the Supreme Court would declare the organization’s ban unlawful.

David Bolden, another protest participant, described the decision to ban the group as an “absurd law.”

Defend Our Juries, the organization coordinating protests against the ban on Palestine Action, condemned the arrests as unjust and described them as an attack on freedom of expression. Criticism of the police action also came from Amnesty International UK, which called on the British government to repeal the organization’s ban.

The case is expected to be considered by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, which will assess whether the ban on Palestine Action is lawful under counterterrorism legislation. The group’s co-founder has been granted permission to appeal the decision, while the Home Office has stated that it will strongly defend the ban during the proceedings.