Palestine Action’s violent criminality is not lawful protest

Last weekend more than 500 people were arrested in Parliament Square. To understand the debate on the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, we are publishing the arguments on both sides. The home secretary sets out the reasons why she proscribed it as a terrorist group and Huda Ammori, the organisation's co-founder, explains why she is challenging that decision in court

- Yvette Cooper Home secretary

Faced with the intolerable scenes of suffering and devastation in Gaza, people across the country are feeling desperate and angry about what is happening and many have joined protests on the street.

Each month, the police work with organisers to facilitate safe, lawful protests, and will continue to do so.

Over the last 18 months, hundreds of thousands have joined pro-Palestinian protests, while only a tiny minority have been arrested for breaking the law. Protest and free speech are an important part of our democracy and those freedoms will always be protected.

So anyone who wants to protest against the catastrophic humanitarian situation and crimes against humanity in Gaza, to oppose Israel's military offensive, or to criticise the actions of any and every government, including our own, has the freedom to do so. The recent proscription of the group Palestine Action does not prevent those protests, and to claim otherwise is nonsense.

That proscription concerns one specific organisation alone - a group that has conducted an escalating campaign involving not just sustained criminal damage, including to Britain’s national security infrastructure, but also intimidation, violence, weapons and serious injuries to individuals.