Why it matters:
Critics described the move as part of the British establishment’s broader “clampdown on democracy,” warning that the banning of Palestine Action represents “a shift towards fascism.”
What's happened:
Activists gathered at Trafalgar Square, London, to protest the designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation by the British establishment.
The civil protest, organised by the group Defend Our Juries as part of its “Lift the Ban” campaign, brought together people from diverse backgrounds. Demonstrators held placards reading, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
What we're hearing:
Raza Kazem of the Islamic Human Rights Commission stated, “Gaza is deciding the moral compass of the world.” He said that Gaza has exposed the complete failure of Western secular democracy to recognise the genocide in Gaza and revealed the complicity of “pro-genocide police officers” in silencing opposition to genocide
The big picture:
Palestine Action is a direct-action group known for targeting Zionist weapons manufacturers such as Elbit Systems, whose factories produce components allegedly used in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. The group states that its actions are aimed at preventing the manufacture of weapons in Britain that contribute to the mass killing of Palestinians.
However, after members of Palestine Action entered a British RAF base and sprayed red paint on two RAF Voyager aircraft in early July, the British government designated the group as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000. The classification means that anyone expressing public support for Palestine Action can now be arrested under terrorism laws and face up to 14 years in prison.
State of play:
Nearly 500 people were arrested during the Trafalgar Square demonstration, bringing the total number of arrests under the “Lift the Ban” campaign to more than 2,000. Eyewitnesses reported that retired nurses, wheelchair users, and elderly protesters holding signs opposing genocide were dragged away and, in some cases, violently detained under terrorism laws.
Go deeper:
Thousands Take to the Streets in London to Protest Israeli Violence
Hossein Amiri - seyed mohammad kazemi
