Activists call UK’s Palestine policy ‘hypocritical’ after 150 protesters arrested
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- Activists condemned the arrest of 150 protesters during a 16-hour standoff outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
- Defend Our Juries accused the UK government of hypocrisy over its approach to Gaza and the ban on Palestine Action.
Activists in the UK have condemned the arrest of 150 protesters during a 16-hour standoff with police outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
The protesters were arrested on terrorism-related charges, according to Defend Our Juries, which is campaigning against the UK government’s ban on Palestine Action.
Defend Our Juries said the arrests were at odds with statements inside the conference supporting political pressure over Gaza.
“Inside the Labour Party conference today, Ed Miliband will tell campaigners and party members that they were right to build political pressure over Gaza with their protests,” the group said.
“The hypocrisy is breathtaking,” it added, questioning why protesters taking a stand over Gaza were being arrested under terrorism legislation.
The group also criticized the continued operation of Elbit Systems in the UK, alleging that the company is a major supplier of weapons used in the war in Gaza.
Palestine Action has been designated as a terrorist organization by the UK government, while the United States has also taken action against the group under its terrorism framework.
The arrests come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham prepares to address the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Monday, in his first conference speech as party leader.
