UK Government’s Crackdown on Anti-Israel and Anti-Genocide Protests
The UK’s intensifying focus on silencing anti-Israel and anti-genocide protesters stems from multiple converging factors that reveal a complex intersection of political pressure, legal overreach, and selective law enforcement that many critics argue amounts to authoritarian overreach.
The Palestine Action Ban: A Legal Watershed
The most significant development occurred in July 2025 when the UK government proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000[1]. This marked the first time any government has sought to ban a protest group, placing it alongside organizations like Al-Qaeda and ISIS[2]. The ban came after Palestine Action members broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged military aircraft, causing an estimated £7 million in damages[3][1].
The classification makes it a criminal offense to support or be a member of Palestine Action, with penalties reaching up to 14 years in prison[4]. Since the ban took effect, over 2,000 people have been arrested across the UK for simply expressing support for the group[5], with many holding signs stating “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”[6][7].
Mass Arrests and Police State Tactics
The scale of arrests has been unprecedented. Recent demonstrations have seen:
- Nearly 500 arrests at a single protest on October 5, 2025[5][7]
- 890 arrests at a September 6 demonstration, marking one of the largest mass arrests in London since the 1960s[8][9]
- Over 425 arrests at an August demonstration[3]
Alarmingly, many of those arrested were elderly individuals, including an 83-year-old vicar, Holocaust survivors’ descendants, and pensioners in their 70s and 80s[5][7]. These arrests were made under terrorism legislation simply for holding placards or wearing T-shirts supporting Palestine Action[10][2].
New Police Powers and Legislative Crackdown
Following the latest arrests, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced sweeping new police powers on October 6, 2025[5][11]. These powers will:
- Allow police to consider the “cumulative impact” of repeated protests[12]
- Enable authorities to relocate demonstrations or restrict their timing[13]
- Amend Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 to grant broader restrictions[14]
The timing of this announcement—just hours after mass arrests and days after the Manchester synagogue attack—suggests the government is weaponizing the tragic incident to further restrict protest rights[15].
Selective Enforcement and “Two-Tier” Policing
Critics have highlighted stark disparities in how different protests are policed. While nearly 900 peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested in September, only 24 arrests were made at a far-right rally of 150,000 people organized by Tommy Robinson, despite violent confrontations with police[16]. This has led to accusations of “two-tier policing” where pro-Palestinian demonstrators face disproportionate enforcement[16].
The contrast is even more striking when considering that Palestine Action members engage in property damage without intent to harm individuals, while far-right protesters have been documented assaulting police officers with minimal consequences[16].
Political Pressure and Pro-Israel Lobby Influence
The Board of Deputies of British Jews and other pro-Israel organizations have consistently pressured the government to crack down on pro-Palestinian protests[6]. Following the Manchester synagogue attack, these groups called for protests to be banned entirely and demanded prosecutions for “stirring up racial hatred”[6].
The government’s response has been swift and severe. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, despite having positioned himself as a defender of free speech[17], has actively supported these restrictions. His statement calling on protesters to “respect the grief of British Jews” while ignoring Palestinian suffering reveals the political calculations at play[18].
Legal Challenges and International Criticism
The proscription of Palestine Action has faced significant legal challenges. UN experts have criticized the designation, stating that property damage without intent to kill or injure should not be classified as terrorism[19]. A declassified intelligence assessment revealed that most of Palestine Action’s activities would not meet the legal standard for terrorism[1].
Human rights organizations have condemned the arrests as a “breach of the UK’s human rights obligations”[11]. Amnesty International described the situation as “something going very wrong here in the UK” when governments arrest people under terrorism laws for peaceful protest[10].
The Broader Context: Silencing Gaza Solidarity
The crackdown extends beyond Palestine Action. The UK government has systematically restricted pro-Palestinian demonstrations since October 2023, with authorities deploying thousands of officers and making hundreds of arrests at peaceful marches calling for Gaza ceasefire[20].
The government’s justification centers on protecting the Jewish community from antisemitism, but critics argue this conflates legitimate criticism of Israeli policies with anti-Jewish sentiment[21]. This conflation has been used to criminalize solidarity with Palestinians experiencing what UN experts have described as genocide[22].
Democratic Backsliding and Authoritarian Drift
The UK’s approach represents what many observers see as democratic backsliding. The expansion of terrorism laws to encompass peaceful protest, the mass arrest of elderly demonstrators, and the selective enforcement of public order laws all point to authoritarian tendencies[23][20].
Human Rights Watch noted in its 2025 World Report that the UK has continued cracking down on protests, with police granted greater powers under the Public Order Act to restrict demonstrations[20]. The UN Human Rights Committee has called on the UK to end mass surveillance at protests and protect freedom of expression[20].
The UK’s focus on silencing anti-Israel and anti-genocide protesters reflects a concerning convergence of political pressure from pro-Israel lobbies, selective law enforcement, and the weaponization of terrorism legislation against peaceful dissent. This systematic suppression of solidarity with Palestinians, justified through claims of protecting Jewish communities, represents a significant threat to democratic rights and freedom of expression in Britain.
The scale and nature of this crackdown—targeting elderly protesters, criminalizing signs opposing genocide, and expanding police powers—suggests the UK government is more concerned with protecting Israel’s international reputation than upholding democratic principles or addressing the substantive grievances about British complicity in what many international observers characterize as genocide in Gaza.
Citations:
[1] Palestine Action https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_Action
[2] Proscription of Palestine Action ‘a dangerous shift in the law’ https://www.ibanet.org/Proscription-of-Palestine-Action-a-dangerous-shift-in-the-law
[3] UK police arrest around 425 at latest protest for banned … https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-police-arrest-around-425-latest-protest-banned-palestine-action-2025-09-06/
[4] Almost 900 people arrested at Palestine Action protest https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2025/0907/1532214-london-palestine-protest/
[5] UK police to get sweeping powers to curb protests as pro- … https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/05/uk/uk-police-power-protests-palestine-action-intl
[6] UK announces new crackdown on protests against Gaza … https://www.newarab.com/news/uk-announces-new-crackdown-protests-against-gaza-genocide
[7] Nearly 500 arrested at Palestine Action protest in London https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceq2e9x19g8o
[8] Arrests at rally against Palestine Action ban rise to 890 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rvly00440o
[9] Police make mass arrests at Palestine Action rally outside … https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/6/police-make-mass-arrests-at-palestine-action-rally-outside-uk-parliament
[10] Staggering number of arrests expected at Palestine demo https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/uk-staggering-number-arrests-expected-palestine-demo-something-has-gone-very-wrong
[11] Police to get new powers in crackdown on repeat protests https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/police-protest-palestine-action-powers-b2839531.html
[12] New police powers to protect communities from disruption … https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-police-powers-to-protect-communities-from-disruption-caused-by-protests
[13] Police to get new powers to impose restrictions on repeat … https://news.sky.com/story/police-to-get-new-powers-to-impose-restrictions-on-repeat-protests-13444970
[14] UK plans new police powers in crackdown on repeat protests https://economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/uk-plans-new-police-powers-in-crackdown-on-repeat-protests/articleshow/124320592.cms
[15] Mahmood and Starmer “weaponising” appalling … https://www.stopwar.org.uk/article/mahmood-and-starmer-weaponising-appalling-manchester-synagogue-attack-to-further-restrict-right-to-protest/
[16] Anti-Racist Protesters Accuse Met Police of ‘Two Tier … https://bylinetimes.com/2025/09/17/anti-racist-protesters-accuse-met-police-of-two-tier-policing-of-tommy-robinson-far-right-rally/
[17] How Graham Linehan’s Arrest Could Reshape Britain’s … https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/world/europe/graham-linehan-free-speech-uk.html
[18] Starmer tells protesters to ‘respect grief of British Jews’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgy8kvvkp3o
[19] UK: Palestine Action ban ‘disturbing’ misuse of UK counter … https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/07/uk-palestine-action-ban-disturbing-misuse-uk-counter-terrorism-legislation
[20] World Report 2025: United Kingdom https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/united-kingdom
[21] ‘Legal to support genocide, illegal to oppose it’: Outrage in … https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/-legal-to-support-genocide-illegal-to-oppose-it-outrage-in-uk-over-palestine-action-ban/3621889
[22] UK Labour Party members vote to recognise Gaza … https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/29/uk-labour-party-members-vote-to-recognise-gaza-genocide-at-conference
[23] Almost 500 anti-genocide activists arrested as Starmer … https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/10/05/djby-o05.html
[24] London police arrest 442 at anti-Israel protest, held despite … https://www.timesofisrael.com/london-police-arrest-175-at-anti-israel-protest-held-despite-pleas-from-cops-govt/
[25] Arrests at protest supporting Palestine Action near Labour … https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx20l1257l4o
[26] More than 350 arrested at pro-Palestine protest in London https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1004/1536839-palestine-protest-london/
[27] Nearly 500 arrested in London as pro-Palestine protest … https://news.sky.com/story/nearly-500-arrested-in-london-as-pro-palestine-protest-goes-ahead-despite-pleas-13444490
[28] UK police to get new powers after latest pro-Palestinian … https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-police-get-new-powers-after-latest-pro-palestinian-protest-2025-10-05/
[29] Nearly 500 arrested at Palestine Action protest in London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceq2e9x19g8o
[30] Over 440 arrested at London Palestine Action protest … https://www.thejournal.ie/arrests-palestine-action-england-6835351-Oct2025/
[31] UK: 857 peaceful protesters arrested in one day https://amnesty.ca/urgent-actions/uk-857-peaceful-protesters-arrested-in-one-day/
[32] Police make arrests as Pro-Palestine protests go ahead … https://news.sky.com/video/police-make-arrests-as-pro-palestine-protests-go-ahead-despite-calls-to-postpone-13444401
[33] UK Gears Up for Mass Protest Against Banning of … https://truthout.org/articles/uk-gears-up-for-mass-protest-against-banning-of-palestine-action/
[34] UK says it will restrict repeated protests after 500 arrests at … https://apnews.com/article/britain-palestine-action-gaza-war-protests-7e3ffac020a70643b7e2b6a7840b27be
[35] Gaza protests held in Europe, more than 400 arrests made … https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/4/gaza-protests-under-way-in-europe-as-arrests-made-in-london
[36] including Section 12/14 of the Public Order Act https://greenandblackcross.org/guides/laws/section-12-14/
[37] Public Order Act: New Protest Offences & ‘Serious Disruption’ https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/advice_information/public-order-act-new-protest-offences/
[38] Palestine Action granted permission to challenge … https://gardencourtchambers.co.uk/palestine-action-co-founder-granted-permission-to-challenge-decision-to-proscribe-group-as-terrorist-organisation/
[39] Section 14ZA – Public Order Act 1986 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/64/section/14ZA
[40] What is Palestine Action, the group linked to hundreds of … https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/06/uk/palestine-action-group-ban-protests-uk-intl
[41] Public Order Act 1986 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/64
[42] Sally Rooney says she will support Palestine Action … https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp94jz0y7ygo
[43] Why is the U.K. arresting peaceful protesters on terrorism … https://www.nbcnews.com/world/united-kingdom/uk-arresting-peaceful-protesters-terrorism-charges-rcna229618
[44] Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations–2
[45] Met police arrest almost 900 people at Palestine Action … https://www.ft.com/content/0dc9db18-a37f-4be3-bb63-03fcb219f816
[46] UK government accused of cracking down on free speech https://www.foxnews.com/world/uk-government-accused-cracking-down-free-speech-think-before-you-post
[47] Palestine Action ban ‘abuse of power’, court told https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpvjglwlyx9o
[48] UK free speech struggle 30 arrests a day censorship https://nypost.com/2025/08/19/world-news/uk-free-speech-struggle-30-arrests-a-day-censorship/
[49] UK bans Gaza protest group – could the same thing … https://theconversation.com/uk-bans-gaza-protest-group-could-the-same-thing-happen-in-australia-261562
[50] LBC callers outraged by ‘authoritarian’ new protest law https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLSc-kUOKmE
[51] Police will get more powers to restrict repeated protests … https://uk.news.yahoo.com/protest-restrictions-palestine-action-115555475.html
[52] UK: Government must stop crackdown on freedom of … https://www.article19.org/resources/uk-government-must-stop-crackdown-on-freedom-of-expression/
[53] UK says it will restrict repeated protests after 500 arrests at … https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/10/05/britain-palestine-action-gaza-war-protests/d7bf5550-a1ca-11f0-a79e-ccb5b1f59130_story.html
[54] Police to get broader powers to restrict repeated protests https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24rmdngrrjo
[55] U.K. government empowering police, weighing limits on … https://nationalpost.com/news/world/u-k-protest-laws-manchester-synagogue-attack
[56] The victims of Britain’s free speech crackdown https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/03/the-victims-of-britains-free-speech-crackdown/
[57] Cops outnumbered as Defend Our Juries returns to … – Canary https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/10/04/defend-our-juries-latest-4-october/
[58] Redefining Free Speech https://tribunemag.co.uk/2025/09/redefining-free-speech
[59] Politics latest: Kemi Badenoch: People have no right to turn … https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-tory-conference-badenoch-starmer-india-protests-terrorism-12593360
[60] English far-right leader Tommy Robinson invited to Israel https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/israel-invites-tommy-robinson-uk-jewish-leaders-criticize-rcna235682
[61] Keir Starmer’s statement to the Commons on Israel & Gaza https://labour.org.uk/updates/press-releases/keir-starmers-statement-to-the-commons-on-israel-gaza-2/
[62] ‘Enough is enough’ says chief of police federation as ‘ … https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/palestine-protests-london-police-manchester-attack-b2839355.html
[63] Antisemitism https://bod.org.uk/issue-areas/antisemitism/
[64] Starmer’s move on Palestinian statehood is clever politics https://theconversation.com/starmers-move-on-palestinian-statehood-is-clever-politics-262239
[65] Antisemitism report finds increase in anti-Jewish … https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crl0p2xk4w3o
[66] Synagogue Attack Increases Pressure on Starmer in the U.K. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/04/world/europe/manchester-synagogue-palestine-antisemitism-starmer-labour-party.html
[67] Sultana: Corbyn ‘capitulated’ on antisemitism definition https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79lr40rqelo
[68] Why Keir Starmer decided time was right to recognise a … https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp9848kxp2go
[69] UK police to get new powers after latest pro-Palestinian … https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/uk-police-powers-latest-pro-143312610.html
[70] Antisemitism https://bod.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/commissiononantisemitismreport-web.pdf
[71] Police to get broader powers to restrict repeated protests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c24rmdngrrjo
[72] The Board Of Deputies – What they say and what they don’t … https://naamod.org.uk/campaigns/the-board-of-deputies-doesnt-speak-for-me/the-board-of-deputies-what-they-say-and-dont-say/
[73] UK’s governing Labour party holds annual conference … https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/28/uks-governing-labour-party-holds-annual-conference-amid-far-right-surge
[74] Pro-Palestine protesters were ‘gloating about Manchester … https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/05/palestine-protesters-gloating-manchester-synagogue-attack/