Mass Pro-Palestinian Protest Set to Challenge Terror Legislation and Strain Police Resources

A large-scale demonstration supporting the banned activist group Palestine Action is expected to take place this Saturday across the United Kingdom, with the central protest planned for Westminster, London. Organisers from various affiliated groups are calling on thousands to publicly defy the Terrorism Act 2000, under which over 200 individuals have already been arrested since the group’s proscription on 5 July.

Palestine Action, founded in 2020, has been linked to more than 385 acts of criminal damage, prompting its classification as a terrorist organisation. Despite this, the group’s supporters are mobilising in an attempt to challenge the enforcement of the ban en masse. The event is expected to test the capacity of police forces, prison services, and the broader justice system.

Prominent activist groups including Defend Our Juries and Cage International are involved in coordinating the action. At a recent meeting organised by Cage International, former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg encouraged members of the Muslim community to defy the ban. Begg called on religious leaders and community figures to mobilise, stating: “There is strength in numbers. Stop being a coward. Cowards never win battles.”

Angie Zelter, representing Defend Our Juries, echoed the call for mass resistance, describing the movement as a stand against what she termed a “rising tide of fascism in Britain.” These comments have raised concerns about potential public order violations, especially in light of the demonstration’s objective: to overwhelm law enforcement and test the legal limits of the Terrorism Act.

The planned protest coincides with mounting pressure on the UK’s judicial system. Courts are currently dealing with a backlog of approximately 77,000 cases, and the prison estate is facing chronic overcrowding. Retired Metropolitan Police officer Graham Wettone warned that mass arrests would likely strain available custody space in London. “There are a limited number of custody cell spaces available in London and, as we saw with previous protests, these can fill up quickly,” he said.

Supporters of the protest argue that mass non-compliance could make the ban politically and practically unenforceable. A document from Defend Our Juries, obtained by The Telegraph, states that the operation is intended to provoke a response so large that it “could be enough for the ban to be lifted.” The same document warns participants of the legal risks, though it notes that large-scale arrests would bring political consequences the government might find difficult to manage.

The legal standing of the ban will be scrutinised further in the autumn when a judicial review is scheduled to take place. One founding member of Palestine Action has already secured the right to legally challenge the government’s designation of the group.

Currently, none of the more than 200 individuals arrested for alleged support of Palestine Action have been formally charged. Prosecutors are believed to be awaiting the outcome of the judicial review before proceeding. As tensions rise and legal uncertainties persist, the forthcoming protests may significantly influence how terrorism legislation is interpreted and enforced in future cases.