LAST UPDATE | 26 Aug

64 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN formally charged by police in the UK for supporting Palestine Action, a protest group recently banned as a terrorist organisation by the British government.

Police said the individuals were arrested under the Terrorism Act for “showing support for a proscribed organisation”.

Of those charged, 23 were arrested during protests on 5 July and are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 13 October. The remaining 41 were arrested during protests on 12 July and will appear in court on 13, 14 and 27 October.

This brings the total number of people charged over alleged support for Palestine Action to 67.

Three others were charged earlier this month and are due in court on 16 September.

Hundreds more have been arrested across the UK since the group was proscribed on 5 July, including a 74-year-old woman in Belfast, who was arrested for wearing a t-shirt expressing support for Palestine Action.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the ban days after Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and sprayed paint on two military aircraft.

Founded in 2020, Palestine Action is a peaceful protest network that targets what it describes as UK complicity in Israeli arms production and sales.

Its actions have included demonstrations, building occupations and damage to property believed to be linked to Israeli arms trade.

Supporters now face severe penalties if convicted, including large fines and up to six months in prison.

The decision to proscribe the group has faced criticism internationally.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk argued that the definition of terrorism should be limited to acts intended to cause death, serious injury or hostage-taking, warning that the UK’s approach “misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism” by expanding it to conduct already criminal under other laws.

Author Sally Rooney has also voiced support, pledging proceeds from her work to Palestine Action.

Protesters opposing the ban have said they plan to withhold personal details when arrested, hoping to overwhelm police processing systems.

Commander Dominic Murphy of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command dismissed the idea, saying: “The notion that by coming out and showing support towards a proscribed terrorist group will overwhelm us is completely misguided.

“Thousands continue to attend protests where they freely express their views in support of Palestine without breaking counter terrorism laws. But where we do see offences, people will very likely be arrested and will certainly be swiftly investigated, working closely with the CPS to bring about prosecutions.”

Additional reporting by PA