By Basant El-Faramawy
London's Metropolitan Police are preparing to arrest around 400 supporters of Palestine Action who plan to demonstrate outside the US embassy on Saturday. The force said anyone attending the event could face arrest for expressing support for the proscribed group, which was banned under the Terrorism Act in June 2025.
Police Warning and Legal Context
Met Commander Adam Slonecki, leading the operation, stated that supporting a proscribed organisation is unlawful and that officers will act proactively. He warned that not only those holding placards but also organisers and those providing logistical support would likely face enforcement action. The campaign group Defend Our Juries has invited participants to display signs reading: "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action."
Cost of Policing Protests
Figures obtained through a freedom of information request show the Met spent £1.3 million policing six "Palestine-Israel public order events" across June and July 2026. Scotland Yard said such demonstrations divert significant police resources from local neighbourhoods.
Court Rulings on Ban
In June, five Court of Appeal judges ruled that banning Palestine Action was a "justified and proportionate" restriction on freedom of expression. That decision reversed a High Court ruling from February, in which three judges had deemed the proscription by then-home secretary Yvette Cooper unlawful following a legal challenge by co-founder Huda Ammori.
US Sanctions and Supreme Court Hearing
The US government imposed sanctions on Palestine Action in August, classifying it as a terrorist organization. Defend Our Juries said the protest at the US embassy was chosen because the US has "not shied away" from involvement in the Palestine conflict. The group's planned action comes ahead of a Supreme Court hearing regarding the ban.
