Palestine Action Arrests Show Why Terror Laws Need Urgent Review

So many of you have contacted me about the recent arrests of more than 500 protesters for expressing support for the proscribed group Palestine Action. I want to set out clearly where I stand, what the Liberal Democrats are doing, and why this matters for all of us, whatever our view on the situation in Palestine and Israel.

The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental aspect of a democracy. That’s why I’m deeply concerned that hundreds of people were arrested last weekend under terrorism legislation simply for holding signs. If convicted, they could face up to six months in prison.

Our Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson, Lisa Smart, has written to the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, and to the Home Secretary calling for an urgent review into the use of these laws in light of these arrests.

There is no doubt that anyone using violence, antisemitic abuse, or hate speech during protests must face serious consequences. But these crimes are already punishable under existing criminal law. Using counterterrorism powers to police peaceful protest risks undermining civil liberties for everyone.

Back in 2018, when the Conservatives introduced these terrorism powers, the Liberal Democrats warned that they threatened free speech and protest rights. Sadly, those concerns are now being realised, and under a Labour government that has adopted the Conservative playbook rather than standing up for people’s rights.

I know that these arrests come in the wider context of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and I want to thank everyone who has contacted me about that ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. With my Liberal Democrat colleagues, I have been consistently urging the Government to condemn the extremism and violence we are witnessing and to help find a lasting peace that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis.

I am actively engaging with this issue, both within Parliament and with individuals like yourself in our community who are affected by what is happening. In total, in this Parliament, I have so far contributed to 13 Early Day Motions related to the crisis in Palestine, the most recent of which was EDM1266, regarding the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. You can read the text here: import-of-goods-from-israeli-settlements-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territoryYou can read my contribution to a recent debate on the Middle East by clicking on the following link: Middle East Update - Hansard - UK Parliament.

We have also tabled – or supported – numerous motions about this issue. Two recent ones voice outrage at proposals by the Israeli Government to indefinitely occupy Gaza and express deep concern about the blockade of aid to Gaza. On 3 June, all 72 Lib Dem MPs signalled their unanimous support for action by the UK government to alleviate the situation in Gaza and we condemned  President Trump’s bizarre and dangerous proposal to turn Gaza into the 'Riviera' of the Middle East.

A few weeks ago, I met with Husam Zomlot, the Palestinians' chief envoy to the UK. He said he was very grateful for all the support the Liberal Democrats have shown, and he hopes the Government will adopt more of our policies. On that note, I was pleased to see the Government finally sanction the hardline Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, something my colleagues and I had been calling on them to do for quite some time.

Although the Government will not use the word ‘genocide’, I believe it is clear that the Israeli government is acting in a way that is consistent with genocide, and international law should be used to hold those leaders to account. Like many of you, I am horrified by the destruction and loss of life in Gaza, especially among children, and by the UN’s warning that thousands of infants are at risk without immediate aid.

In Parliament, the Liberal Democrats have pushed for:

·       Increased aid flows to Gaza and urgent humanitarian access.

·       Recognition of Palestine as part of a two-state solution.

·       An arms export ban to Israel so UK weapons cannot be used in human rights abuses.

·       Trade bans with illegal Israeli settlements.

·       Sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers advocating the dispossession of Palestinians.

I have also spoken directly with aid workers, medical volunteers, and hostages released from Hamas captivity. Their testimonies are harrowing, and they underline the urgency of securing a ceasefire, releasing all hostages, and holding accountable those committing atrocities on both sides.

That is why the arrests of peaceful protesters here in the UK are so troubling. You do not have to agree with Palestine Action’s tactics to see the danger of criminalising peaceful expression under terrorism laws. If we allow protest rights to be eroded in one context, they will be eroded in others too.

I will continue to press ministers to:

1.     Ensure humanitarian aid floods into Gaza.

2.     Secure a ceasefire and a path towards lasting peace.

3.     Protect the right to peaceful protest here at home.

The UK should be leading with principle, standing up for human rights abroad, and defending civil liberties at home.