Greta Thunberg Arrested at London Protest Supporting Palestine Action Hunger Strikers
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested by City of London Police on Monday during a protest in central London in support of Palestine Action hunger strikers imprisoned in the UK. The demonstration highlights ongoing tensions surrounding activism targeting corporate and institutional links to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The protest, organised by the group Prisoners for Palestine, drew attention to activists who have staged hunger strikes inside UK prisons, demanding recognition and humanitarian consideration for their campaign against companies and institutions allegedly connected to the Israeli defence industry. Thunberg, 22, held a placard reading “I support Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide”, which police cited as grounds for her arrest.
Authorities confirmed that the arrest was made under Section 13 of the UK Terrorism Act 2000, a provision applied to items supporting proscribed organisations — a legal classification reserved for groups banned as terrorist organisations in the UK. The specific group targeted by the protest, Palestine Action, is designated under this classification, making any public display of support potentially subject to arrest.
Eyewitnesses and video footage from the demonstration show that alongside Thunberg, two other activists engaged in civil disobedience by applying red paint and striking the exterior of the offices of Aspen Insurance. Activists allege the company provides insurance for Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence manufacturer, linking it to alleged human rights abuses. Both individuals were detained on suspicion of criminal damage, while Thunberg’s arrest centred solely on the placard and public support.
The arrest has sparked debate internationally, with supporters highlighting Thunberg’s longstanding commitment to global justice and human rights. Traditionally known for her climate activism through the Fridays for Future movement, Thunberg has increasingly incorporated broader human rights concerns into her activism, particularly focusing on how environmental and geopolitical issues intersect.
Campaigners for Palestine Action and Prisoners for Palestine say that the hunger strikes, ongoing for over 40 days in some cases, raise serious concerns for the welfare of incarcerated activists. They have called for urgent dialogue between authorities, prison officials, and human rights observers to ensure the prisoners’ health is safeguarded and that their protest is not met with disproportionate punitive measures.
Police and legal experts have stressed that arrests under Section 13 are rare but necessary under current UK law when public support for a proscribed organisation is displayed. Legal proceedings for Thunberg and the other activists are ongoing, with authorities expected to determine formal charges in the coming days.
This incident marks a high-profile escalation in activist engagement, demonstrating the increasingly interconnected nature of climate, human rights, and geopolitical advocacy. While Thunberg’s arrest has drawn attention to the plight of Palestine Action hunger strikers, it also raises questions about freedom of expression, civil disobedience, and the legal boundaries of activism in the UK.
Aaron Joyce, Newswire, L.T.T Media; Newsdesk;
23 December 2025
Greta Being Arrested In London
Photo Credit - Reuters