Introduction
In the wake of heightened political scrutiny and a push for anti-terror legislation, seven individuals have been charged following a Palestine Action protest in central London. The protest, held at Trafalgar Square on Monday, saw hundreds gather amid tight police controls and ended with 13 arrests, according to the Metropolitan Police palestine action protest.
Protest Clashes and Charges Filed
Authorities reported multiple clashes between demonstrators and police. Of the 13 detained, seven individuals now face charges ranging from assaulting emergency workers to breaching the Public Order Act. One of the most serious charges includes a racially aggravated public order offence.
Among those charged is Liam Mizrahi, 25, of no fixed address, who faces a racially aggravated offence and is being held on remand. Lavina Richards, 37, from Hackney, was charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker. Both are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Others charged include:
- Bipasha Tahsin, 21 – Assault on emergency worker (court date: 8 July)
- Eleanor Simmonds, 31 – Assault on emergency worker (court date: 25 July at Croydon Magistrates’ Court)
- Matthew Holbrook, 59 – Breach of Public Order Act (court date: 21 July)
- Tom Jubert, 40 – Breach of Public Order Act (court date: 21 July)
- Hafeza Choudhury, 28 – Breach of Public Order Act (court date: 21 July)
Home Secretary’s Move to Ban Palestine Action
The arrests come a day after UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced her intent to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organization under the UK’s anti-terror laws. If approved by Parliament, the move would criminalize membership, support, or any form of promotion of the group.
Palestine Action, known for its direct actions and protests against arms manufacturers linked to Israel, has been under increased scrutiny. Just days prior, members of the group reportedly broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and spray-painted military planes—an act condemned as “disgraceful” by Cooper.
Legal Backlash and Protester Response
Palestine Action called the government’s proposed proscription “unhinged” and vowed legal action. Supporters at Monday’s protest chanted slogans such as “We will not be silenced” while waving Palestinian flags in defiance of police-imposed restrictions that had barred them from demonstrating at Parliament Square.
While the police maintained a strong presence and eventually dispersed the crowd at 3:00 PM BST, critics argue that the use of force and threats of criminalization are meant to silence dissent. Civil rights groups have already raised concerns over the potential misuse of anti-terror legislation to target political activism.
Background: What Is Palestine Action?
Founded in 2020, Palestine Action is a direct-action group that targets businesses linked to Israeli arms manufacturing, including Elbit Systems. The group has been involved in a series of building occupations, spray-painting incidents, and coordinated shutdowns of weapons factories across the UK.
According to the Home Office, the group’s activities have intensified in frequency and severity since 2024. Despite mounting legal pressure, the group remains defiant, stating: “We will not be silenced by authoritarian measures.”
Conclusion
The charges following the Palestine Action protest signal a potentially transformative moment for UK protest laws. As Parliament prepares to debate the group’s terrorist designation, the implications for civil liberties and political dissent loom large.
For more on related developments, read: Gaza Aid Crisis: UN Slams Israeli ‘Death Trap’ After Dozens Killed.
