Palestine Action: Who They Are and Why They Were Proscribed

Palestine Action's Prescription and Protests

• 🚨 Over 500 supporters of Palestine Action were arrested recently, facing charges under Section 13 of the Terror Act 2000 for public displays of support.
• ⚖️ While most were bailed, some have been charged, facing up to 6 months in jail if convicted, a serious consequence under terror legislation.
• 💡 The group's aim is to demonstrate the perceived absurdity of the law, with organizers hoping for acquittals, though a legal challenge to their proscription is ongoing.
• 🌍 A terror conviction carries significant implications, potentially affecting international travel, immigration status, and employment opportunities.

Demographics of Protesters

• 👵 A striking number, reportedly half, of those arrested were over 60, suggesting a demographic less impacted by potential employment consequences.
• 👩‍⚕️ Protesters include diverse individuals, such as a consultant gynecologist and a professional protester with numerous previous arrests.
• 👨‍🏫 The group also includes teachers and an 83-year-old ordained priest, indicating a broad range of participants.
• 🌳 A significant theme is the overlap with participants from environmental protests like Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain.

Policing and Police Response

• 👮 Police tactics had to adapt due to the scale of recent protests, with numbers escalating from 25 to over 500 arrests in a short period.
• 🚶‍♂️ In previous events, police struggled to cope, with some protesters leaving unarrested and others being bailed on the spot due to insufficient cell capacity.
• 🔄 Police also faced challenges preventing arrested individuals from immediately rejoining protests, leading to a situation described as farcical.
• 🏢 Critics argue that the mass arrests were foreseeable, given London's limited police cell capacity (around 500), highlighting the strain of mass civil disobedience.

Origins and Evolution of Palestine Action

• 📅 Founded in 2020 by Huda Amorei, Palestine Action predates the October 7th conflict, emerging from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
• 🔗 Amorei felt the traditional movement lacked impact and sought a more direct approach, influenced by her great-grandfather's involvement in the 1936 Palestinian uprising.
• 🤝 A key figure in developing their tactics is Richard Barnard, an experienced Extinction Rebellion activist, who brought ideas like throwing red paint on buildings.
• 🎯 Targets are chosen based on perceived links to the Israeli state and military, including subsidiaries of Elbit Systems, an Israeli weapons manufacturer.

Tactics and Impact Post-October 7th

• 💥 Following October 7th, the group saw a surge in membership, enabling expansion of targets and more direct, sometimes extreme, actions.
• 🔒 They developed sophisticated methods to enhance security and secrecy, using encrypted messaging apps and designing manuals for activists.
• ✈️ Actions range from occupying military sites and damaging equipment to more extreme acts like throwing smoke bombs into occupied factories.
• ❓ A key question remains regarding the group's level of violence and the terrifying nature of their actions for those on the targeted sites.