London’s Metropolitan Police has announced that it will once again arrest supporters of the group Palestine Action, reversing its February stance of temporarily refraining from arrests following a High Court ruling. The change comes after the court allowed the government to appeal the decision, delaying its immediate effect.
According to police official James Harman, support for Palestine Action remains a criminal offence while the appeal process is ongoing, which could take several months. Police are required to enforce the law as it currently stands and are therefore likely to make arrests in cases where offences are committed.
Earlier, several activists linked to the group, who had been released on bail last month, spoke at a press conference about prison conditions and the health consequences of a prolonged hunger strike.
The UK government had banned Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation in June, placing it in the same legal category as organisations such as al-Qaeda and ISIL. The move followed an incident in which activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and sprayed paint on military aircraft. The group claimed responsibility.
In February, however, the High Court ruled that the ban was unlawful and disproportionate. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood subsequently announced plans to challenge the decision in the Court of Appeal.
Since its founding in 2020, Palestine Action has organised numerous protests across the United Kingdom, particularly targeting companies it says profit from Israeli military operations, including the arms firm Elbit Systems. The ban triggered legal challenges, criticism from human rights groups and further protests. Thousands of people have been arrested in connection with alleged support for the group, often for publicly expressing solidarity.
Source: Al Jazeera