Britain calls some anti-Israel protests a type of terrorism. Is it state overreach?

[ad_1] When Francesca Nadin visited her buddy Heba Muraisi in a British jail every week in the past, she stated the 31-year-old former florist and lifeguard was unrecognizable.

“I felt if I hugged her too onerous, I'd simply break her, that’s how skinny she was,” stated Nadin.

Imprisoned for protesting Israel's warfare on Gaza, Muraisi had solely been consuming water combined with salt and augmented with nutritional vitamins since early November, an astoundingly very long time to outlive with out stable meals.

Throughout their dialog, Nadin feared Muraisi would possibly solely be hours away from loss of life.

However final Wednesday night time, on Day 73 of her starvation strike, Muraisi and two different prisoners, Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramello, introduced they have been ending their protest in opposition to their remedy by the federal government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and would begin feeding themselves once more.

Not since Irish Republican Military prisoner Kieran Doherty survived for 73 days earlier than dying on a starvation strike in 1981 had anybody in a U.Okay. jail demonstrated such endurance.

Supporters of Muraisi and the others claimed victory after The Instances newspaper reported that Elbit, a subsidiary of Israel’s largest arms producer, misplaced out on a greater than 2-billion-pound ($3.8 billion Cdn) British defence contract.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Heba Muraisi, 31, recently ended a long hunger strike in support of Palestine Action that friends say left her close to death." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/397564af-0682-4401-bae8-2e5cf84bb7c7,1768746793643/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1049%2C1291%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/397564af-0682-4401-bae8-2e5cf84bb7c7,1768746793643/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1049%2C1291%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/397564af-0682-4401-bae8-2e5cf84bb7c7,1768746793643/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1049%2C1291%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/397564af-0682-4401-bae8-2e5cf84bb7c7,1768746793643/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C1049%2C1291%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:0.8125484120836561" data-cy="image-img"/> Heba Muraisi, 31, lately ended an extended starvation strike in help of Palestine Motion that buddies say left her near loss of life. (Submitted) There isn't any direct proof the starvation strikers' actions influenced the federal government’s choice. However activists took credit score anyway.

“Even if you end up in jail, you'll be able to nonetheless act to disrupt the Israeli warfare machine,” stated Nadin.

'Terror' protests? The starvation strike got here amid a livid debate within the U.Okay. over what constitutes cheap opposition to Israel’s ongoing army assaults in Gaza and its historic remedy of Palestinians.

On the coronary heart of the difficulty is the query of when protests grow to be acts of terrorism.

In July, the British authorities took the unprecedented step of proscribing the protest group Palestine Motion as a terrorist group.

For years, members of Palestine Motion have carried out escalating actions and vandalism in opposition to Israel-related firms working in Britain. Their direct motion marketing campaign culminated with a number of members of the group breaking right into a U.Okay. army base in June and vandalizing British army plane, which included spraying them with pink paint.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Francesca Nadin, a supporter of Palestine Action and activists who staged a hunger strike, speaks to CBC News outisde the British High Court in London." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/c96037f0-0dca-4659-addf-75c2c3581a6a,1768825042524/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/c96037f0-0dca-4659-addf-75c2c3581a6a,1768825042524/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/c96037f0-0dca-4659-addf-75c2c3581a6a,1768825042524/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/c96037f0-0dca-4659-addf-75c2c3581a6a,1768825042524/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777" data-cy="image-img"/> Francesca Nadin, a supporter of Palestine Motion and activists who staged a starvation strike, lately spoke to CBC Information outdoors the British Excessive Courtroom in London. (Lyzaville Sale/CBC) Safety Minister Dan Jarvis advised the Home of Commons in September that the group’s actions go far past typical protests by endangering lives and property, and as such “happy the related checks within the Terrorism Act 2000 and needs to be proscribed.”

As a consequence, anybody holding membership within the group and even exhibiting indicators of help for Palestine Motion can now withstand 14 years in jail.

Mass arrests The designation has led to greater than 2,400 arrests by British police, many involving individuals merely holding up placards saying "I help Palestine Motion."

A panel of British judges is at present contemplating whether or not to have the designation overturned, after human rights teams corresponding to Amnesty Worldwide intervened.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Police officers detain a protester as supporters from Defend Our Juries stage a demonstration in Tavistock Square as part of their campaign to lift the ban on Palestine Action ahead of a judicial review at London's High Court next week, in London, No" srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/74af8615-0deb-4d34-ad21-5f1f720335a4,1768825272509/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6623%2C4417%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/74af8615-0deb-4d34-ad21-5f1f720335a4,1768825272509/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6623%2C4417%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/74af8615-0deb-4d34-ad21-5f1f720335a4,1768825272509/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6623%2C4417%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/74af8615-0deb-4d34-ad21-5f1f720335a4,1768825272509/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6623%2C4417%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.4994340049807562" data-cy="image-img"/> Cops detain a protester as supporters from Defend Our Juries stage an illustration in Tavistock Sq. on Nov. 22, 2025, as a part of their marketing campaign to carry the ban on Palestine Motion forward of a judicial overview at London's Excessive Courtroom. (Jack Taylor/Reuters) The three starvation strikers weren't a part of the incident involving the vandalization of the army plane however have been convicted of earlier offences, together with housebreaking and prison harm at an Elbit facility close to Bristol.

All have been in jail for greater than a yr with out trial and have been protesting the lengthy wait, in addition to their circumstances in jail. Additionally they demanded a gathering with authorities ministers, who refused.

“That is simply the newest step within the persecution of people that dissent on the federal government stance on Gaza,” stated Nadin, who was beforehand discovered responsible of trespassing and vandalism associated to actions she took in opposition to British firms with Israeli hyperlinks.

Polarizing proscription The problem of proscribing Palestine Motion has been polarizing.

WATCH | Irish hip-hop group barred from Canada over Israel stance: Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap barred from coming into Canada over anti-Israel activism

Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap has been barred by the Canadian authorities from coming into the nation. The Carney authorities says the group amplifies political violence and endorses hate in its feedback about Israel's warfare in Gaza. A number of Jewish teams have been asking Ottawa to ban the band since June, however others say the choice to bar them creates a harmful precedent. CBC’s Michelle Ghoussoub studies. U.Okay.-based human rights teams have accused the Starmer authorities of misusing the anti-terrorism laws, whereas supporters of Israel wish to see the crackdown in opposition to the protesters go even additional.

Yasmine Ahmed of Human Rights Watch stated labelling protesters as terrorists merely for holding up an indication places the British authorities in horrible firm.

“It actually locations them in a bucket with Hungary, Russia, Hong Kong and China, [where] they've used counter-terrorism measures to suppress dissent,” Ahmed advised CBC Information in London.

She stated police have all of the powers they should cope with protesters who trigger vandalism, with out resorting to trampling on civil liberties.

“Terrorism needs to be equated with probably the most critical offences, [and] what this does is essentially undermine the idea of combating what a terrorist is, and equates it to individuals holding indicators,” stated Ahmed.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Yasmine Ahmed, UK Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), speaks to CBC News in London." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/c1b3236f-39b9-472a-93c4-c6f3f4cb9e4b,1768829304233/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/c1b3236f-39b9-472a-93c4-c6f3f4cb9e4b,1768829304233/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/c1b3236f-39b9-472a-93c4-c6f3f4cb9e4b,1768829304233/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/c1b3236f-39b9-472a-93c4-c6f3f4cb9e4b,1768829304233/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777" data-cy="image-img"/> Yasmine Ahmed, the U.Okay. director of Human Rights Watch, advised CBC that British police have all of the powers they should cope with protesters who trigger vandalism with out resorting to trampling on civil liberties. (Lyzaville Sale/CBC) Current public opinion surveys mirror the deep divisions in British society over Palestinian Motion and extra broadly over Israel’s actions in Gaza.

A YouGov survey in October 2025 reported that 33 per cent of Britons imagine it was right to label the group a terrorist group, whereas 27 per cent imagine it was incorrect to take action.

Different YouGov surveys, nonetheless, present there's stronger public help for the causes the group is championing. For instance, a majority of the British public reportedly favour a ban on arms shipments to Israel, and public sympathy for the “Palestinian aspect” reached its highest recorded stage of 37 per cent in mid-2025.

Israel’s supporters Professional-Israel advocates within the U.Okay. Parliament are amongst these pushing hardest for the Starmer authorities to proceed with its crackdown on Palestine Motion, amongst them British peer John Woodcock, also referred to as Lord Walney.

Former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson appointed Woodcock because the U.Okay.’s Unbiased Adviser on Political Violence in 2020 and he continued to serve within the position below Starmer till February 2025.

In a 2024 report, Woodcock particularly named Palestine Motion an extremist group. Following the group's airbase vandalism in July 2025, Woodcock strongly backed the Labour authorities choice to designate it a terrorist group, and continues to take action.

<img loading="lazy" alt="John Woodcock, Lord Walney, formerly acted as the British government's independent advisor on political violence and disruption. He supports the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e11d8fa6-e510-44d3-824a-65de49bd991a,1768856037961/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C24%2C376%2C291%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e11d8fa6-e510-44d3-824a-65de49bd991a,1768856037961/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C24%2C376%2C291%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e11d8fa6-e510-44d3-824a-65de49bd991a,1768856037961/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C24%2C376%2C291%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e11d8fa6-e510-44d3-824a-65de49bd991a,1768856037961/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C24%2C376%2C291%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.2920962199312716" data-cy="image-img"/> John Woodcock, Lord Walney, previously acted because the British authorities's impartial advisor on political violence and disruption. He helps the proscription of Palestine Motion as a terrorist group. (Lord Walney) “One of many indicators that proscription has been comparatively efficient is that you've seen a discount for some time within the variety of assaults,” Woodcock advised CBC Information in an interview.

He praised the Labour authorities for primarily ignoring the starvation strikers and refusing to be swayed by them.

“It was a silly stunt,” he stated.

Nonetheless, Woodcock acknowledged the bar for “terrorist” actions could must be re-examined, saying that police sources are being wasted on supervising Palestine Motion protesters who're merely holding up indicators at sit-ins and different protests.

He says one choice is to present police extra powers to crack down on recruitment, fundraising and publicizing the actions of a proscribed group, whereas making the penalty for merely holding up an indication much less extreme.

“It appears blindingly apparent, I believe to most individuals, that a corporation like Palestine Motion should not be free to broadcast their crimes on social media,” he stated.

Huge protests Demonstrations in Britain in opposition to Israel’s army actions in Gaza and its decades-long occupation of the Palestinian territories have was a number of the largest anti-war actions in U.Okay. historical past.

The final main demonstration in London in October 2025 drew greater than 600,000 individuals, in accordance with protest leaders, though police estimates put the quantity at nearer to 100,000.

Since Hamas's assaults on Israel in October 2023, which killed roughly 1,200 individuals, Israel's Defence Forces have bombed and carried out a devastating floor marketing campaign in Gaza that has killed greater than 71,000 individuals, in accordance with Gaza well being authorities.

A lot of the health-care services within the enclave have been destroyed, lots of of hundreds of persons are dwelling in tents and hunger has stalked survivors. Even since a ceasefire got here into impact, Gaza well being authorities report Israeli assaults have killed greater than 440 individuals, together with 100 kids.

In the meantime, within the occupied West Financial institution, Jewish settlers have intensified their assaults on Palestinian communities by destroying properties and companies and leaving lots of wounded.

Some U.Okay. observers imagine critics of the starvation strikers shouldn’t be so fast to attenuate the impression of their actions.

“On social media, the actions of the starvation strikers and the broader problem of pro-Palestinian activism resonated broadly and extensively,” stated Bart Cammaerts, a professor of politics and communications on the London College of Economics, in an e-mail to CBC.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Anti-Israel protestors demonstrate in front of the British High Court on Jan 14th. " srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e902c860-878f-4eec-9ab4-f0b263448b05,1768829534678/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e902c860-878f-4eec-9ab4-f0b263448b05,1768829534678/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e902c860-878f-4eec-9ab4-f0b263448b05,1768829534678/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/e902c860-878f-4eec-9ab4-f0b263448b05,1768829534678/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C960%2C540%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777" data-cy="image-img"/> Anti-Israel protesters reveal in entrance of the British Excessive Courtroom on Jan. 14. (Lyzaville Sale/CBC) “What starvation strikes obtain ... is to generate solidarity with the activists and their trigger, to direct public consideration to the plight of the jailed activists and to spotlight the unreasonableness of the federal government vis-a-vis these activists, who've nonetheless not been discovered responsible of something,” Cammaerts stated.

The main focus will now shift to the British Excessive Courtroom ‘s judicial overview of the choice to proscribe Palestine Motion. The listening to was held in early December and the judges’ choice might come at any time.

Given that is the primary occasion the place a British authorities has designated a direct motion protest group a terror group, no matter choice the justices make can have far-reaching implications for human rights and the way forward for protests in opposition to Israel.

In the meantime, Heba Muraisi and the opposite two starvation strikers are actually in a jail infirmary and going by a “refeeding” course of, in accordance with Francesca Nadin.

“I spoke to [Muraisi] and he or she was feeling very optimistic about all the pieces she has achieved by the starvation strike,” stated Nadin.

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