The Metropolitan Police has said it will resume arresting people for showing support for Palestine Action despite High Court ruling – Fact Check

Trust Score

Mixed (some Verified, some Unverified)

Confidence: Medium

Standard

Emotional Tone Low

How emotionally charged the language is (low is neutral)

Reading Level Academic

Suitable for age 22+ readers (grade 17)

Article Length Long

942 words

Caps & Emphasis Moderate

3.5% of words are capitalised (high can indicate sensationalism)

Executive Summary

The article’s central, high-impact factual narrative—(i) the High Court found the proscription of Palestine Action unlawful, (ii) the Government appealed, (iii) the Met said it would resume arrests for showing support while the proscription remains in force, and (iv) the appeal hearing is scheduled for late April 2026—is well supported by reputable reporting and (for the High Court decision) a primary judicial document. However, several quantitative and medical-treatment claims (e.g., “more than 2,500 arrested”, specific electrolyte/vitamin timelines, and the Government’s stated position about prisoner monitoring) are only partially supported by available reporting and/or rely on single-outlet accounts; these should be treated as unverified without additional primary documentation (official statistics, court records, prison/ombudsman statements). The article also uses charged framing (e.g., “genocide”, “political prisoners”, “dehumanised”), which increases the risk of conflating opinion with verifiable fact.

Factual Verification

Verified Claims

The UK High Court ruled that the Government’s proscription (ban) of Palestine Action was unlawful/disproportionate.
Despite the High Court ruling, the proscription remained in force pending the Government’s appeal (i.e., the judgment’s practical effect was stayed/delayed).
The Metropolitan Police said it would resume arresting people for showing support for Palestine Action while the organisation remains proscribed and the appeal is pending.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman publicly stated that the High Court ruling does not yet change the law in practice and that support remains unlawful while proscription remains in force pending appeal.
The Government indicated it would appeal the High Court decision.
Some people have been arrested in London for holding signs stating (or closely paraphrasing) “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”

Unverified Claims

The Government’s appeal is set to be heard “at the end of April” (the ‘late April’ timing is supported, but the article’s wording lacks a specific date and is not directly sourced in-text).
“More than 2,500 people have already been arrested in connection with protests linked to Palestine Action.” (A ‘>2,000’ scale is supported by reputable reporting; ‘>2,500’ may be plausible but is not confirmed here via a primary dataset or consistent cross-source tally.)
A specific woman “was reportedly arrested in London after holding a sign stating that she opposed genocide and supported the group.” (Plausible and consistent with broader reporting, but the article provides no identifying details or direct source.)
“Several Palestine Action supporters who were imprisoned while awaiting trial have spoken out” with the exact durations and specific prison-medical-treatment details as stated (some elements are corroborated by at least one outlet; full detail set remains unconfirmed without primary records).
Heba Muraisi was denied electrolytes and only given vitamins after 30 days (as stated).
Qesser Zuhrah received no electrolytes until 20 days in, and they were later withdrawn after she collapsed (as stated).
Kamran Ahmed continues to suffer chest pains and shortness of breath as a result of a 66-day hunger strike (as stated; symptoms are reported, but causation and medical confirmation are not established via primary evidence).
“The government has denied wrongdoing, claiming that prisoners were monitored by medical professionals and treated in line with existing procedures, including regular health checks and hospital transfers where necessary.” (A general denial is plausible, but this exact characterisation is not verified here with an attributable Government statement in the searched material.)

Bias & Presentation

Detected Biases:

Framing bias: presents contested legal/political issues using morally loaded terms (“genocide”, “atrocities”) without evidentiary qualifiers.
Selection bias: emphasises activist accounts of mistreatment with limited balancing detail from primary prison/government documentation.
Implied causality: suggests policing decisions are driven by political suppression rather than legal status of proscription, without direct evidence.

Language Patterns

Emotional manipulation: 0.38

Confidence

Level: Medium

Confidence is medium because the core legal/enforcement claims are strongly supported by a primary judicial judgment and multiple reputable secondary sources, including direct quotes of the named Met official. However, several material details (especially the exact ‘>2,500’ arrest count up to late March 2026 and the precise prison medical-treatment timelines and Government response wording) are not confirmed by primary documentation in the sources reviewed, so they remain unverified.

Search Journal

Query: Metropolitan Police resume arresting people for showing support for Palestine Action despite High Court ruling proscription unlawful James Harman Deputy Assistant Commissioner

Query: High Court ruling proscription Palestine Action unlawful government appeal end of April 2026

Query: site:met.police.uk "Palestine Action" arresting support proscribed

https://news.met.police.uk/news/update-on-policing-in-london-following-proscription-of-palestine-action-499157

Query: Heba Muraisi hunger strike 73 days denied electrolytes Palestine Action supporter

Query: 2,500 arrested Palestine Action support 2,500 arrests figure source

Article Content

# The Metropolitan Police has said it will resume arresting people for showing support for Palestine Action despite High Court ruling - UK Fact Check Politics

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1. [Home]( 2. [Politics]( 3. The Metropolitan Police has said it will resume arresting people for showing support for Palestine Action despite High Court ruling

# The Metropolitan Police has said it will resume arresting people for showing support for Palestine Action despite High Court ruling

11:11 on 28/03/26 | Updated: 11:15 on 28/03/26 |[Rustam Wahab](

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The Metropolitan Police has said it will resume arresting people for showing support for Palestine Action, despite a High Court ruling that found the government’s ban on the group to be unlawful.

After the ruling, the force initially said it would stop making arrests under the Terrorism Act and instead gather evidence while awaiting further legal developments. That position has now been reversed. Police say that because the government is appealing the decision, the ban remains in force for now and will continue to be enforced.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the court ruling does not yet change the law in practice. He stated that while the High Court found the proscription unlawful, its impact will not take effect until the government’s appeal is decided, which could take months. He added that this means support for Palestine Action remains a criminal offence and that police must enforce the law as it currently stands, not as it might be in the future.

The government’s appeal is set to be heard at the end of April, meaning the group will remain banned until then.

The decision comes amid growing outrage from activists and civil liberties groups who argue that people are being criminalised simply for opposing Israel’s genocide in Gaza and expressing solidarity with Palestinians. More than 2,500 people have already been arrested in connection with protests linked to Palestine Action.

One woman was reportedly arrested in London after holding a sign stating that she opposed genocide and supported the group, highlighting concerns about the policing of political speech.

At the same time, several Palestine Action supporters who were imprisoned while awaiting trial have spoken out about what they say was severe mistreatment behind bars. A number of activists went on prolonged hunger strikes in protest, with some refusing food for over two months.

Heba Muraisi, who was on hunger strike for 73 days, said she was denied electrolytes and only given vitamins after 30 days. Qesser Zuhrah, who refused food for 48 days, said she did not receive electrolytes until 20 days into her protest and that they were later withdrawn after she collapsed. Kamran Ahmed, who was on hunger strike for 66 days, said he continues to suffer chest pains and shortness of breath, while others reported ongoing neurological issues.

The activists say they were left traumatised and dehumanised, accusing prison authorities of medical negligence and a failure to provide basic care during life threatening conditions. Lawyers are now being consulted over potential legal action.

The government has denied wrongdoing, claiming that prisoners were monitored by medical professionals and treated in line with existing procedures, including regular health checks and hospital transfers where necessary.

Campaigners say the situation raises serious concerns about the use of terrorism laws against pro Palestine activism and the wider treatment of those who speak out against the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.

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