London Met Police: You Can Protest for Israel But Not for Palestine

By Middle East Eye, March 9, 2025

A London Metropolitan police officer was filmed yesterday in London telling demonstrators they could face arrest for protesting in support of Palestine but would be allowed to remain if they were protesting in support of Israel.

The officer stated that failing to comply with the order would constitute a breach of conditions set out, which could result in arrest.

When asked by a protester filming the interaction, “If we protest for Palestine, Sudan, Congo, we can’t stay. But if we protest for Israel, we can stay?”, the officer firmly responded, “Yes.”

This incident occurred after emergency services closed off the area around Big Ben in London, following an event where a man climbed one of the buildings at the Palace of Westminster and raised a Palestinian flag.

The barefoot man was filmed on Saturday morning standing on a ledge of the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the famous Big Ben clock, holding the Palestinian flag.