On Thursday, July 30th, 2026, British Police arrested 77 individuals outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London. The crowd had gathered to show support for Palestine Action, a group proscribed as a “terrorist” organisation in the UK. The rally was organized by the activist group Defend Our Juries to protest the start of hearings against the first of thousands charged with voicing support for Palestine Action.

London’s Metropolitan Police Service confirmed the arrests via a post on X, stating, “Officers have begun making arrests.” Meanwhile, Defend Our Juries posted that “hundreds are outside Westminster Magistrates today to say this is not terrorism,” although the exact number of attendees was not confirmed.

The protest marks the first demonstration in support of Palestine Action since Andy Burnham became prime minister. Burnham has also granted the United States permission to use some UK military bases for “defensive” strikes against Iran, a conflict that began on February 28 and has been described by several legal experts as illegal.

A spokesperson for the protestors stated their intention to continue challenging the proscription legally, saying, “We will continue to fight this proscription all the way to the Supreme Court and, if necessary, to the European Court of Human Rights to overturn what has become one of the most major attacks on free speech and the right to protest in modern British history.”

Additional context includes ongoing tensions in the West Bank, where Israel has arrested dozens of Palestinians amid settler attacks, and cultural initiatives such as a new film following a Waldorf-inspired school in the region.

Sources