Summary
- British authorities arrested more than 20 individuals on Saturday in central London under anti-terrorism laws, following their public support for Palestine Action, which was officially banned just hours earlier.
- The group said the action was a protest against Britain’s alleged support for Israel.
- I SUPPORT PALESTINE ACTION.” According to Sky News, several people were detained near a statue of Mahatma Gandhi while chanting slogans in favor of the banned group.
British authorities arrested more than 20 individuals on Saturday in central London under anti-terrorism laws, following their public support for Palestine Action, which was officially banned just hours earlier.
The UK government designated Palestine Action a proscribed terrorist organization last month after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged military aircraft. The group said the action was a protest against Britain’s alleged support for Israel.
Late Friday, the group’s urgent legal challenge against the parliamentary decision to ban it was rejected, allowing the ban to take effect at midnight.
Under UK counter-terrorism laws, it is a criminal offense to publicly support, express approval for, or display symbols of a proscribed organization. Violators may face up to 14 years in prison and/or financial penalties. To date, Britain has outlawed 81 groups under these laws, including ISIS, Hamas, and al-Qaeda.
On Saturday, demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square, Westminster, to protest the ban. Some carried placards reading “I OPPOSE GENOCIDE. I SUPPORT PALESTINE ACTION.” According to Sky News, several people were detained near a statue of Mahatma Gandhi while chanting slogans in favor of the banned group.
Meanwhile, UN experts have accused Israel of committing “genocidal acts” during its ongoing military operations in Gaza. These accusations follow the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israeli territory. Israel has rejected all such allegations.
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