Four Arrested in London After 'Intifada' Chants at Westminster Protest

British police detained four people at a pro-Palestine demonstration outside the Ministry of Justice in Westminster after officers said the suspects were heard shouting or chanting slogans that included calls for “intifada.” The arrests came as the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) signalled they would adopt a tougher approach to policing pro-Palestine rallies following recent violent incidents abroad and at home.

The demonstration was organised in support of eight jailed hunger strikers whose health campaigners say is at risk. Police said the four detained were also alleged to have links to the activist group Palestine Action; the force has not published the full details of the alleged links or any pending charges.

Police Response and Official Comments

In a post on X, the Metropolitan Police said the arrests involved "alleged shouting or chanting of slogans involving calls for intifada." Commanders from the Met and GMP issued a joint statement:

“Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed – words have meaning and consequence. We will act decisively and make arrests.”

UK Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips publicly backed the police action. She told The Times she saw such language as having the potential to incite violence and cause serious consequences.

Campaigners' Response And The Meaning Of "Intifada"

Campaigners argued the police interpretation risks conflating political speech with calls to violence. Ben Jamal of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign noted that the Arabic word "intifada" literally means "shaking off" and is commonly used to describe uprisings or resistance against perceived injustice or occupation. He and other advocates said the term has historical resonance in the Palestinian context—most prominently during the uprisings of 1987–1993 and 2000–2005, which prompted severe Israeli military responses and heavy civilian casualties.

Some campaigners also criticised authorities for moving quickly to change policing posture without broader consultation, and warned against equating largely peaceful protests with the violent acts of isolated individuals.

Context: Recent Violent Incidents And Community Concerns

The police statements came after two high-profile violent incidents: a father-and-son gun attack at a Hanukkah festival on Bondi Beach in Sydney, which killed 15 people, and an October attack on a Manchester synagogue that occurred on Yom Kippur. Authorities said those events had changed the security context and informed their decision to be more assertive.

Jewish community leaders welcomed the police response. The UK’s Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, called the move “an important step towards challenging the hateful rhetoric we have seen on our streets, which has inspired acts of violence and terror.” Organisations such as the Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitic incidents, report an increase in such attacks in recent months.

At the same time, community groups and activists warn that Islamophobia and attacks on Muslims have also risen in the UK. They point to rhetoric from some right-wing political figures and parties, including supporters of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, as a contributing factor to a more hostile environment for Muslim communities.

Police have said they will continue to monitor protests closely and act where they believe criminal offences occur, while campaigners have urged authorities to protect the right to peaceful protest and to differentiate between lawful political speech and incitement to violence.