The UK Metropolitan Police announced on Tuesday the arrest of nine individuals for displaying a pro-Palestinian banner outside a dwelling in London. This latest event signifies a continued response to then Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s directive on October 10, which called for increased police scrutiny of pro-Palestinian displays amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
The Metropolitan Police Service revealed the arrest in a post on the platform X (formerly Twitter). In their post they indicated, “Officers have removed the banner from the building in Park Square near Regent’s Park. A number of people have been arrested. We remain at the scene and will share further details later.” The police later confirmed that “9 people were arrested under Section 18 of the Public Order Act” for unveiling a banner which called for the ‘Globalization of the Intifada’.”
According to Section 18 of the Public Order Act, it is an offense to use “threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting” with the intention of stirring up racial hatred.
The term ‘Intifada’ refers to two major uprisings by Palestinians against Israeli occupation: the ‘First Intifada’ (1987-1993), and the ‘Second Intifada’ (2000-2005). The phrase ‘Globalize the Intifada’ emerged within the context of the Israeli-Hamas war and is understood as a call for expanding the resistance beyond Palestine’s borders. The American Jewish Committee provides an explanation stating that “the most prominent expressions of intifada have been through violence so this phrase is often understood by those saying and hearing it as encouraging violence against Israelis, Jews, and institutions supporting Israel.”
Since the beginning of the Israeli-Hamas war on October 7, there has been an increase in protests, politically-charged rhetoric, and an uptick in antisemitic and islamophobic incidents in the UK. Despite efforts to reach out to the Metropolitan police for further comments, none have been received at the time of writing.