https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/19/protesters-arrested-jewish-state-chants-pro-palestinian/
More than 60 protesters were arrested in central London as some pro-Palestinian activists chanted “f--- your Jewish state”.
Protesters gathered across the country to call for the ban on Palestine Action to be reversed amid police warnings that those showing support for the proscribed group faced arrest.
Demonstrations were held in Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Truro and London as part of a campaign coordinated by the campaign group Defend Our Juries, which has already seen dozens arrested.
In the capital, the Metropolitan Police said 55 people had been arrested in Parliament Square for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action. The force said they were arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
It later added that by 4pm a further 10 people had been arrested within the main Palestine Coalition march, bringing the total to 65 in London. Eight of the 10 were for seemingly supporting Palestine Action, while one was for a racially aggravated public order offence and one for breaching Public Order Act conditions.
Pro-Israel counter-protesters chanted “there is no genocide” at thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, with one activist shouting: “You use genocide as an excuse of your hatred for the Jewish state.”
They held signs that read “There is no genocide – but there are 50 hostages still captive”, and were met with shouts of “fascist” and “f--- your Jewish state” by some pro-Palestinian protesters.
Lord Walney, the former government extremism adviser, said: “These appalling chants underline the vile anti-Semitism infecting the Gaza marches.
“For too many, the underlying driver is ugly hatred of the world’s only Jewish state, not justice for the Palestinian people. The unchecked permissive attitude from march organisers and police is normalising dark anti-Jewish prejudice on British streets.”
A spokesman for Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said: “These chants just show how thin the veneer is and why they fixate on Israel. The fact is that they hate the idea of a Jewish state existing because they cannot stand the idea of Jews having self-determination.
“Palestine Action has always been an extreme and hateful organisation and, rather than arresting and releasing their supporters, they must now face the full force of the law.”
As the march reached Parliament Square, a group of protesters holding blank signs gathered near the statue of Gandhi, before writing on them in marker pen “I support Palestine Action”, seemingly in defiance of the ban on showing support for the organisation.
Officers arrested a number of Palestine Action supporters, who adopted the tactic of going limp, confiscating signs reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” and searching bags.
As he was carried away by police, one man said: “Freedom of speech is dead in this country – shame on the Metropolitan Police.”
Outside Downing Street, speeches were made by pro-Palestinian supporters, who told demonstrators: “Starmer’s project of fear has failed.” Zoe Garbett, a Green Party member of the London Assembly, said: “The Labour Government is aiding and abetting this genocide in Gaza.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, leading Saturday’s policing operation in London, said officers would be on alert over chants similar to the “death to the IDF” slogan chanted by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.
He said: “At previous protests, the area between the main march and any counter-protest has seen the most heated exchanges. Officers will be particularly alert to conduct, including chanting, in this area, and will be working with stewards to ensure crowds keep moving past this point.
“Where they become aware of behaviour that crosses the line from protest into criminality, they will intervene and take appropriate action.”
He said those expressing support for Palestine Action “will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested”, adding: “I would urge those people to consider the seriousness of being arrested under the Terrorism Act and the very real long-term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances – that such an arrest is likely to have for their future.”
Elsewhere, eight people holding signs saying “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” were arrested on the steps of Truro Cathedral, in Cornwall, under terror legislation. Defend Our Juries said one of those arrested was Deborah Hinton, an 81-year-old former magistrate.
Greater Manchester Police said it had arrested 16 people on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation, adding that they remained in custody for questioning. Avon and Somerset Police said 17 people were arrested during a protest in Bristol.
The Met said more than 70 people had been arrested at similar demonstrations in Parliament Square over the past two weekends, while Defend Our Juries said a total of 120 had so far been detained across the UK.
It comes ahead of a High Court hearing on Monday at which Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, will ask for the green light to challenge the Home Secretary’s decision to ban the group under anti-terror laws.
The ban means that membership of, or support for, the direct action group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000.