474 Arrested for Supporting Palestine

TEHRAN (Defapress) - 474 participants in a protest against the ban on the group Palestine Action were arrested.

Police stated that this was the largest mass arrest operation in the past decade. Before the event took place in central London, authorities announced that additional security forces had been called in to handle the gathering. It had been predicted that the protest would result in a large number of arrests.

One of the protest organizers wrote: "The fact that so many British citizens risked arrest and imprisonment to join today’s demonstration shows the people’s disgust and shame at the English government’s complicity in a genocide being broadcast live on news networks."

The English Home Secretary praised the police officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the government’s decision to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. Yvette Cooper said: "Many people may still not understand the true nature of this group. Their activities are not peaceful. Britain’s national security must always come first."

The protest began at 1 PM, and officers immediately began arresting individuals holding signs in support of Palestine Action.

A female protester, as she was being dragged away by police, shouted at them: "You all have loved ones. You’re arresting the wrong people. Instead of me, you should be arresting those complicit in genocide."

A 70-year-old woman, arrested while speaking to The Guardian, commented on the public’s presence at the event: "People are tired of watching genocide on their TV screens. I’m ashamed of our government’s involvement in genocide. This is a friendly, family-like atmosphere, completely peaceful, with no trace of terrorism. We are peaceful people saying we oppose genocide."

Wearing a shirt that read "Jews Against Genocide," she added: "I wear this with pride to show that many Jews do not support genocide. I’m just holding a piece of paper, that’s not terrorism. Terrorism is deliberately starving 2 million people. I don’t know what to say to the Palestinians. I’m so sorry it’s come to this. I wish we could do more, but we’re trying our best."

Later, Robert Del Naja of the band Massive Attack joined the protest, stating: "English civil liberties are trapped in a manufactured crisis, and peaceful citizens are being labeled terrorists."

Amnesty International described the mass arrests as deeply concerning. Sacha Deshmukh, the organization’s executive director, said: "Protesters in Parliament Square were peaceful; treating them as terrorists is utterly nonsensical."

In June, after activists from Palestine Action infiltrated the RAF Brize Norton airbase and spray-painted two military aircraft, the group was subjected to counter-terrorism laws. Under these laws, membership in or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison.