Photo: Friend Sue Hampton (in pink) in Parliament Square.
Quakers among Palestine Action arrestees
‘It’s a relief to know that counter terrorism police have nothing better to do.’
Quakers were among the twenty-nine people arrested in London earlier this month, as part of a protest in support of the now-proscribed group Palestine Action.
The Metropolitan Police said those arrested were being held on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act 2000. Being a member of, or showing support for, Palestine Action, is a now a criminal offence, with a maximum sentence of fourteen years in prison.
Sue Hampton, of Berkhamstead Meeting, who was among those arrested, told the Friend: ‘I am opposed to genocide and the arms trade which profits from war. I had not planned to take part in the protest but was there to support the action, and on seeing a spare placard I sat with it. The proscription is neither just nor honourable, as an increasingly authoritarian government skewed the vote by lumping Palestine Action – who have only damaged “property” in the form of a killing machine – with two inherently violent groups.
‘Before my police station interview I told my solicitor I wanted to answer questions with, “I am a lifelong pacifist, a Quaker and a follower of Jesus.” He advised me to stick with, “No comment.”’
In a statement released after the arrests, Defend Our Juries, which organised the protest, said: ‘It’s a relief to know that Counter Terrorism police have nothing better to do.’
Palestine Action has targeted arms companies it believes are contributing to the current war in Gaza. The group says it does not advocate for violence, although Avon and Somerset Police told BBC News that two officers were assaulted with sledgehammers at a break-in of the defence technology firm Elbit Systems last August (the case has not yet reached trial, and those accused are on remand).
Before the ban on Palestine Action came into force, Oliver Robertson, head of worship and witness at Britain Yearly Meeting, had written to Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, with concerns about the proscription:
‘Proscription interferes with our freedom of religion, as well as the freedom of conscience and the right to assembly that all people have, regardless of their motivation for acting.’
His letter noted that the home secretary had not fully considered Palestine Action’s core aim of preventing the export of arms linked to serious human rights violations.
‘This is not an aim associated with extremism or violence; much to the contrary, it seeks to stop state violence being committed against Palestinians on an industrial scale,’ the letter read.
Oliver also warned that proscribing Palestine Action could set a dangerous precedent, potentially restricting the ability of other peaceful protest groups to operate.
After a legal challenge failed, the group’s ban came into effect on 5 July. Within hours, activists organised by Defend Our Juries began gathering near the statue of Gandhi in Parliament Square, where they were arrested.
Comments
Wouldit be acceptable if the editor of The Friend was prosecuted as a supporter of terrorism if I were to say here that I supported P.A?
By steve petter on 17th July 2025 - 9:01
In over 360 ‘direct actions’ since 2020, “Palestine Action has targeted arms companies it believes are contributing to the current war in Gaza.” This has included attacks on banks and offices of property companies that it associates with the arms trade.
I am not sufficiently familiar with the convolutions of the law to judge whether Palestine Action IS a terrorist organisation; nor the moral legitimacy of symbolic destructive acts against properties associated with the arms trade with Israel.
But in 2024 its targets took on a sinister aspect. In March a portrait of Arthur Balfour was covered in red paint and slashed repeatedly, it still hasn’t been completely restored. In November they stole a bust of Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel, and attacked the offices of the Jewish National Fund, which helped buy land for Jews during the Ottoman rule.
None of these targets have any connection with the supply of arms to Israel or the present-day Israeli government policies. They ARE attacks on core symbols of Jewish nationhood - acts that reject the very legitimacy of Israel’s existence.
Friends will remember that in May 2025, Britain Yearly Meeting adopted Minute 30, stating:
“We abhor, and will challenge, any attempt to use our words to question the existence of Israel or the Israeli people’s right to live in peace and security.”
But supporting Palestine Action does just that. On the day of the arrests Paul Parker invited Meeting for Sufferings to “hold [the arrestees] all in the Light.”
Some Friends have short memories.
By Ol Rappaport on 17th July 2025 - 9:34
Ol Rappaport conflates two issues here. The aims and objectives of Palestine Action (which we may or may not agree with) and their proscription as a terrorist organisation because of their non-violent peaceful protests. In my book, damaging property is not violent, but I’m sure some Friends will argue over that. But what is clear is that they are not a terrorist organisation. If we want to accept a significant curtailment of our democratic right to protest, we can stand by and do nothing until an organisation we are part of is proscribed in a similar way and then it will be too late.
Added to this is the underhand manner in which the vote was taken (in which three organisations were proscribed en bloc and MPs were not allowed to vote on each of them separately).
This isn’t about what you think about the Israeli government; this is about our democracy under attack.
Martina Weitsch, York
By MartinaLiz on 17th July 2025 - 10:34
Martina, I do not claim that Palestine Action is a terrorist organisation, indeed I state I am not able to judge the legal basis for its proscription. My concern is that some of the group’s recent actions - such as defacing a portrait of Arthur Balfour or stealing a bust of Chaim Weizmann - are not protests against current policy or the arms trade. They are direct attacks on Jewish nationhood.
These acts appear to form part of a campaign to delegitimise Israel’s very existence, not just the actions of the present government or military.
That is contrary to the affirmation made in Yearly Meeting’s Minute 30, which affirms the right of the Israeli people to live in peace and security, and explicitly rejects any questioning of the right of the State of Israel to exist.
By Ol Rappaport on 17th July 2025 - 16:52
Please login to add a comment
