by EuroNews with AP
It’s published
British police arrested 466 people in protest in central London on Saturday in support of a pro-Palestinian group that was recently banned.
Metropolitan Police reported on X account that eight more people were arrested for other crimes, including five for assaulting officers.
Before the protest, civil rights group Amnesty International issued a statement urging the Met Police not to arrest peaceful protesters.
In early July, Parliament passed a law that banned Palestine’s actions and criminalized publicly supporting the group. The move follows an incident in June when activists invaded a RAF base and injured two tanker planes in order to protest Britain’s support for Israeli attacks in Gaza.
Supporters of Palestinian actions say the ban would illegally limit freedom of speech. They have been protesting across the UK for the past month.
On Saturday, more than 500 people gathered in Parliament Square, with many saying, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestinian actions.” Police said on their X account “we are preparing for a busy three days of protests and events.”
The protest organizers defend the ju apprentices in the statement, who claimed in the statement that only a few protesters were detained and most were released immediately. They called the arrest “a great embarrassment against (the government) and further undermines the credibility of this widely ridiculed law that was brought about to punish those who expose their own crimes.”
The metropolitan police refused, claiming that anyone who openly shows support for Palestinian actions has been arrested or has been arrested. Officials also pointed out that many of the squares were passersby, media or people who were not carrying placards.
Police said the protest was unusual as many participants wanted to be arrested to put pressure on the judicial system.
Palestinian actions have previously targeted Israeli forces and Israeli defense companies and other sites in the UK related to Israeli forces. The government says the ban follows the June 20 RAF base incident in which activists sprayed red paint on plane engines and injured Clover in protest of British military support for the Israel-Hamas war.
Supporters are challenging the decision before the court, arguing that the government is doing far too far to treat Palestinian actions as a terrorist organisation.
Our ju-san said on its website that “After the meaning of “terrorism” has been separated from a campaign of violence against civilians, it has been extended to include those who are rich, powerful, and criminals who cause economic damage or embarrassment, and the right to freedom of expression is meaningless and democracy is dead.”
The arrest took place over the weekend of protests in London related to the war on Gaza and immigration.
Palestinian protesters marched down on Downing Street on Saturday, accusing the government of not doing enough to stop the war. Prime Minister Kiel Starmer has pledged to recognize the Palestinian state later this year.
On Sunday, other groups are scheduled to march through central London to seek the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Police are also preparing to protest outside the hotel that houses asylum seekers. This has seen recent clashes between anti-immigrant activists and rebels.
Deputy Director Ade Adelekan said the scale of the event “puts pressure” on police resources.
