Over 500 Arrested at Anti-Israel Protest in London

More than 500 protesters were arrested in central London on Saturday, during an anti-Israel demonstration, the Metropolitan Police said.

The mass arrests came as British authorities continued enforcing a ban on Palestine Action, an anti-Israel activist group outlawed under terrorism legislation last year over its direct-action attacks on military and industrial sites. Although a High Court ruling earlier this year found the ban unlawful, it remains in force pending a government appeal, creating a legal standoff now playing out on the streets.

Crowds are gathering in Trafalgar Square to oppose the UK Government’s ban on PaIestine Action. pic.twitter.com/z2DNGQ2HZi

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Hundreds gathered for the protest, organized under the name “Everyone Day” by the group Defend Our Juries. Demonstrators staged a sit-down protest in Trafalgar Square, many holding placards reading “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,” in open defiance of the law. Officers moved in throughout the day, carrying away protesters as others watched and applauded.

Police said those arrested ranged in age from 18 to 87. By early evening, officers had made more than 200 arrests, with the total climbing to 523 by late Saturday night.

Ahead of the demonstration, the Metropolitan Police warned participants that showing support for a banned organization would be treated as a criminal offense. Commander Claire Smart said, “Those attending should be aware that showing support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act, and we will not hesitate to act where the law is broken.”

Among those arrested was Robert Del Naja, a founding member of the band Massive Attack, who had publicly criticized the police decision to resume arrests. He said he believed he could challenge any detention in court, stating “this was an unlawful arrest and, therefore, I don't accept it.” Del Naja also defended the group at the center of the protest, saying, “I think that the actions of Palestine Action were highly patriotic because they were pretty much protecting our country from getting involved in serious war crimes, and breaking international law. How much more patriotic can you be than that?”

Other demonstrators echoed similar claims. Linda Walker, one of the protesters, said “there's been a genocide going on for the last two-and-a-half years,” adding that “The only people [the government] are willing to take action against are the people trying to stop it.”

Organizers from Defend Our Juries accused the government of targeting disagreement, saying the protest was meant to highlight “the UK Government’s complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the misguided crackdown on peaceful protest at home.”

Palestine Action was banned in July 2025 under the UK’s Terrorism Act, making it a criminal offense to support or promote the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The organization has carried out a series of direct-action campaigns targeting military and industrial sites in Britain, including facilities linked to Israeli defense companies.

In February 2026, the High Court ruled that the ban had been unlawful, citing concerns over freedom of expression. However, the government was granted the right to appeal, allowing the restrictions to remain in force. Following the ruling, police initially paused enforcement but resumed arrests in late March.

The legal uncertainty has also affected ongoing cases. Trials of hundreds of individuals accused of supporting Palestine Action have been paused, with a broader judicial review scheduled for July 30.

Thousands of people have been arrested across the UK since the group was proscribed, with protests continuing despite the legal risks. Saturday’s demonstration marked one of the largest waves of arrests linked to the ban since it was introduced.