The Metropolitan Police have made two arrests after individuals shouted slogans involving calls for 'intifada' during a demonstration in central London. A third person was detained for obstructing officers during the arrests.
Protest Outside Ministry of Justice
The incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, 17 December 2025, during a pro-Palestinian protest outside the Ministry of Justice building in Westminster. Police officers moved into a crowd of approximately 100 people to make the arrests, leading individuals away to waiting police vans.
In a statement released on social media, the Met confirmed: "Two people who shouted slogans involving calls for intifada were arrested for racially aggravated public order offences. A third person was arrested for obstructing the above arrests."
A Shift in Police Policy
These arrests signal a significant change in approach by UK police forces. Earlier on Wednesday, both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) announced that anyone chanting controversial slogans like "globalise the intifada" would face arrest.
This joint decision was made in the wake of two terror attacks: the mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney and the attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on 2 October. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson stated that the context had changed, emphasising that "words have meaning and consequence" and promising decisive action.
Reactions: Welcome and Condemnation
The UK’s Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, welcomed the police announcement as "an important step towards challenging the hateful rhetoric" seen on British streets. He had previously called for a crackdown, stating chants like "globalise the intifada" must be clearly deemed unlawful.
However, the move has faced criticism from pro-Palestinian campaigners. Ben Jamal of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign described it as "another low in the political repression of protest for Palestinian rights." He argued the word 'intifada' means 'shaking off' injustice and that interpreting it solely as a call for violence is problematic.
The Community Security Trust, a charity protecting British Jews, said the police's new stance came "not a moment too soon," welcoming a more robust response to violent language at protests.
Contested Meaning and Legal Context
The meaning of 'intifada' is heavily contested. While the American Jewish Committee describes it as a call for aggressive resistance against Israel, many protesters argue it signifies peaceful resistance to occupation. Prosecutors have stated they will assess each case individually, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission will monitor how police enforce the new policy.
The Bondi Beach attack, allegedly carried out by father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, directly influenced the policy shift. The first funerals for the victims, including London-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, were held on Wednesday.
