London protest: Seven charged for backing Pro-Palestinian activist group

UPDATED: Jun 25, 2025 01:05 IST

At least seven individuals were charged on Tuesday following a protest in central London in support of Palestine Action, an activist group the UK government plans to outlaw under anti-terrorism legislation.

The proposed ban, announced on Monday and due to be presented to Parliament next week, would criminalize membership in the group. It follows a recent incident in which Palestine Action activists damaged two British military aircraft to protest the UK’s support for Israel.

Palestine Action condemned the move as “an unhinged reaction.” On Monday, the group was forced to relocate a planned demonstration from outside Parliament to Trafalgar Square after police imposed restrictions on the location.

According to the Metropolitan Police, the protest started peacefully but later turned confrontational, resulting in 13 arrests. Seven individuals have now been formally charged with offences including assaulting emergency workers and a racially aggravated crime. One person received a caution, while others were released on bail or pending further investigation.

Palestine Action has regularly targeted UK facilities connected to Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems and other firms with ties to Israel, particularly since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in 2023.

In its most prominent recent act, two members breached a Royal Air Force base in central England last Friday.

If enacted, the ban would place Palestine Action alongside proscribed organisations such as Hamas, al-Qaeda, and ISIS under UK law. Amnesty UK criticised the move, warning that “government embarrassment at security breaches is no excuse for interfering with human rights.”

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With inputs from Reuters