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Overview of the protest
On 6 September 2025, a group of healthcare professionals were arrested during a protest in Parliament Square, London. The demonstration was organised by Palestine Action in collaboration with Health for Extinction Rebellion (HfXR). It coincided with a larger, separate march held by the Palestine Coalition.
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The protest attracted an estimated crowd of 1,500 people. Demonstrators called attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the UK’s continued supply of arms to Israel, and the government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
Arrests and legal proceedings
Among those arrested was Dr Fiona Godlee, former editor-in-chief of The BMJ. Video footage shows Dr Godlee seated and holding a placard reading, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,” before being approached by six police officers. She was arrested shortly after 6 pm and released on bail at 9:30 pm. She did not resist arrest and was also holding a white flower at the time.
Speaking to The BMJ after her release, Dr Godlee stated:
“I did it because what is happening in Gaza is so clearly a genocide unfolding with the world to see, and our government’s only response is to try to silence its critics by using draconian antiterrorism laws.”
She added that it was particularly important for health professionals to take a stand, noting that retired doctors face fewer professional risks than those still practising.
The Metropolitan Police reported that 890 people were arrested at the protest, with 857 detained under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for showing support for Palestine Action. According to The Evening Standard, more than 25 individuals were arrested for assaults on police officers and other public order offences.
Dr Alice Clack, a consultant obstetrician, faces charges under the same legislation for her involvement in a previous protest.
Government proscription of Palestine Action
Palestine Action was proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000 earlier in 2025. The Home Office cited the group’s use of direct action tactics and alleged links to criminal damage and intimidation. The proscription makes it a criminal offence to be a member of the group or to show support for it.
The government’s decision followed an incident in which members of Palestine Action broke into a Royal Air Force base and spray-painted two military aircraft in protest against UK arms sales to Israel.
The proscription has been criticised by various organisations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who described it as “disproportionate and unnecessary”.
Police response and public safety concerns
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart, who led the policing operation, stated:
“Our role in the context of protest remains as it always has been: to police without fear or favour, to enforce the law, and to ensure those exercising their right to protest can do so safely.”
She added that when a group advertises its intent to commit crimes, police have a duty to respond accordingly. The Metropolitan Police reported facing an “exceptional level of abuse” during the protest, including punches, kicks, spitting, and objects being thrown.
Reactions from the medical community
Dr Kamran Abbasi, current editor-in-chief of The BMJ, expressed support for Dr Godlee, describing her as “thoroughly decent, non-violent, and deeply concerned about injustice.” He stated:
“The government has lost moral authority by arresting Fiona and hundreds of people like her, including many health professionals, for protesting against the UK’s complicity in Israel’s war crimes in Palestine.”
Health for Extinction Rebellion confirmed that at least 14 healthcare professionals were arrested. The group stated that health workers sat in solidarity with their Gazan counterparts, 1,400 of whom have been killed since the current crisis began. Protestors sat behind a banner reading “Medical Duty > Terror Law” and cited the Geneva Conventions and UN Security Council resolutions.
Eyewitnesses reported chants of “Don’t arrest our NHS” and “Please ask yourself, why are they doing this?” as arrests were carried out. Protesters in medical scrubs wore badges identifying themselves as doctors, surgeons, and physiotherapists.
Wider context and additional arrests
Although the focus of this article remains on healthcare professionals, it is notable that the protest included a wide range of participants. Among those arrested was 83-year-old Reverend Sue Parfitt, who stated:
“I am an Anglican Priest and Jesus is my leader. Clearly, we are witnessing a genocide and the deliberate starvation of the Palestinian people… The truth is that Palestine Action is not a terrorist organisation.”
Other demonstrators included Holocaust survivor descendants, elderly citizens, and disabled activists. One protester, Mike Higgins, aged 62 and blind, stated:
“Nothing is being done about the genocide other than by us. And I’m a terrorist? That’s the joke of it.”
Despite violent clashes on surrounding streets, Parliament Square Green remained largely peaceful, with hundreds of protesters sitting quietly with signs reading “I support Palestine Action”.
Humanitarian context
According to humanitarian reports cited by The BMJ, more than 63,000 people have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023, with over 161,000 injured. Famine was declared on 22 August 2025, following prolonged restrictions on aid entering the region. At least 370 people, including 131 children, have died from acute hunger.
Summary
The 6 September 2025 protest in Parliament Square, organised by Palestine Action and Health for Extinction Rebellion, led to the arrest of hundreds of demonstrators, including healthcare professionals such as Dr Fiona Godlee and Dr Alice Clack. The protest was framed by participants as a response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the UK’s arms exports to Israel, with medical staff citing ethical obligations under international law.
The arrests were made under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, following the government’s proscription of Palestine Action earlier in the year. While the Home Office maintains that the proscription targets criminal activity, critics—including UN officials and senior clinicians—have argued that it suppresses legitimate dissent and blurs the line between peaceful protest and criminal liability.
The involvement of doctors, clergy, and disabled activists has intensified public debate around civil liberties, professional ethics, and reputational risk. The protest’s optics—peaceful sit-ins, medical banners, and symbolic gestures—contrast sharply with the legal framing of terrorism, raising complex questions about the boundaries of lawful dissent in a securitised political climate.
