More than 400 individuals were detained on Saturday during a protest supporting Palestine Action, according to London's Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The protest, aimed at voicing opposition against the UK government's designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, ended with significant police intervention. An additional eight arrests were made, including five for alleged assaults on police officers.

The MPS enforced Section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994, which allows police officers to require individuals to remove masks or other disguises potentially used to conceal identities. The arrested protesters were processed at designated "Prisoner Processing Points" in Westminster and later released on bail with conditions barring them from future Palestine Action-led protests.

Formed in 2020, Palestine Action has been vocal in its criticism of arms sales to Israel, particularly targeting manufacturers involved in such transactions. Their methods, described by the group as "direct action," led to their classification as a terrorist organization by the UK under the Terrorism Act of 2000 in 2025.

This legislation, central to the UK's counter-terrorism efforts, permits the government to outlaw organizations linked to terrorism and criminalizes membership, support, or promotion of these groups. However, this designation and subsequent enforcement have sparked significant debate and criticism.

In July, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk expressed concerns over the misuse of counter-terrorism laws in the case of Palestine Action, suggesting that the group's designation might infringe on rights to freedom of expression and assembly. He described the move as an overreach of the intended scope of these laws.

The Network for Police Monitoring (NETPOL) has also weighed in, indicating that the ban on Palestine Action could be seen as a politically motivated attempt to suppress pro-Palestinian advocacy. NETPOL raised alarms about the broad and vague nature of the UK's anti-terrorism laws, pointing out potential for misuse in ways that could be perceived as racist or Islamophobic.

The arrests and ongoing controversy highlight a growing tension between national security measures and civil liberties, with debates likely to continue as both sides stand firm in their positions.