U.K. police arrest dozens at London jail protest calling for release of Palestine Action prisoners

Arrests at a demonstration outside a London prison

British authorities arrested at least 86 protesters who gathered outside a London jail to demand the release of prisoners associated with Palestine Action, according to a roundup of international news briefs published Monday, January 26, 2026. The demonstration took place at West London’s Wormwood Scrubs jail, with footage described as showing police pushing protesters to the ground and handcuffing them.

The protest also highlighted the case of Muhammad Umer Khalid, described as 22 years old and reported to have restarted a hunger strike about two weeks earlier. The report said he had first begun a hunger strike in November, paused in December due to severe health complications, and then resumed his protest action.

According to the same briefing, multiple activists remain jailed as they await trial over charges connected to their advocacy with Palestine Action. The group has been described as banned under the U.K. government’s Terrorism Act, a designation that has intensified scrutiny of demonstrations and created sharp disputes about where to draw lines between activism, property-focused direct action, and terrorism-related offenses.

Supporters argue that the cases involve political policing and an aggressive use of security legislation against protest movements, especially those focused on the Israel-Gaza conflict and arms-industry targets. Critics of the protests contend that disruptions and damage tied to activist campaigns warrant serious criminal consequences and that public safety considerations justify a strong response.

The jail protest reflects a broader international pattern in which court cases and detention conditions—especially hunger strikes—become flashpoints that draw attention beyond the original actions that led to arrests. In these situations, questions often extend from individual guilt or innocence to whether a state’s legal framework is being used proportionately and consistently.

For families and supporters, a hunger strike can be both a pressure tactic and an emergency, raising fears about deteriorating health and the adequacy of medical care in custody. For authorities, hunger strikes pose operational and ethical dilemmas, including how to manage risk while respecting rights and avoiding actions that can escalate public outrage.