Police remove protesters during the pro-Palestine “Lift The Ban” rally in London, August 9, 2025. Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images
Protest Against Proscription of Palestine Action
Palestine Action was designated a terrorist group in July, a month after four of its members broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and spray-painted two Voyager military aircraft. The group has been involved in a series of direct actions targeting companies linked to the Israeli defense industry, which it claims are complicit in human rights violations.
Organizers, including the campaign group Defend Our Juries, urged participants to carry placards reading, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
The protest drew hundreds of attendees, some chanting slogans and others engaging in sit-ins to disrupt access to nearby government buildings.
Legal Challenge to Terrorist Designation
The UK Home Office’s proscription order is now facing a legal challenge. Lawyers representing Palestine Action argue that the designation breaches rights to free expression and peaceful assembly under domestic and international law.
Earlier this month, the High Court ruled that the proscription should be reviewed, allowing the case to proceed to a full hearing.
Government officials have defended the decision, citing what they describe as the group’s involvement in unlawful property damage and actions designed to intimidate.
Critics, however, argue that the ban represents a significant escalation against political activism and could have wider implications for protest rights in the UK.
Heightened Tensions Over Pro-Palestinian Protests
The “Lift The Ban” rally took place amid heightened tensions in Britain over the policing of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Similar protests have been met with increased police presence, reflecting concerns over public order and national security.
In several cases, campaigners have accused authorities of using counter-terrorism powers to suppress lawful dissent.
According to reports, Parliament Square was cordoned off in sections as officers in high-visibility jackets escorted individuals away. Video footage from the scene showed protesters being physically carried from the area, with chants continuing as they were removed.
Background on Palestine Action
Since its formation in 2020, Palestine Action has staged a series of occupations, blockades, and paint attacks targeting factories and offices linked to Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. The group claims its campaign is part of a broader effort to end what it describes as the UK’s complicity in alleged war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank.
Elbit Systems has consistently rejected accusations of wrongdoing, stating that its operations comply with UK and international law.
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The company maintains that its products are used for legitimate defense purposes. Critics of the proscription say the move risks criminalizing advocacy and solidarity efforts connected to the Palestinian cause.
