In a bid to curb the anti-Israel protests, which have been growing across the West, mainly due to Israel's conduct in the Gaza war. UK Police have arrested 474 people at a demonstration in London in support of the banned group Palestine Action.
The police said as many as 466 protesters were detained for expressing their support for the banned Palestinian action group, with five more charged with assault on police officers, two more for disturbing public order, and one other detained for a racial crime. Hundreds of protesters at the same time revealed handwritten signs reading, "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action" at the protest, which was organised by Defend Our Juries at Westminster's Parliament Square.
The UK government in July declared the Palestinian action group a terror group under the Terrorism Act of 2000, prohibiting support for the group as a punishable offence, which may lead to prison for up to 14 years. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked police for their response, while charity Amnesty International described the mass arrests as "deeply concerning".
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People outraged by the 'ongoing genocide' in Gaza were 'entitled under international human rights law to express their horror', said Chief Executive of Amnesty International Sacha Deshmukh. He said, “The protesters in Parliament Square were not inciting violence, and it is entirely disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists.”
Organisers defend our juries claimed there were more than 1,000 'sign-holders' at the protest – and a large number had not been arrested. Before Saturday's protest, as many as 200 people had been arrested across the country for related causes since the ban was applied by the Home Secretary last month.
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