Over 40 organisations join call for ‘Witness Block’ at largest ‘Lift the Ban’ protest yet

_London - _CAGE International alongside over 40 organisations are rallying support for the solidarity ‘Witness Bloc’ at Defend Our Juries’ upcoming ‘Lift the Ban’ civil disobedience action. In objection to the genocide and proscription of Palestine Action, the demonstration is being planned for Saturday, 4 October at the new location of Trafalgar Square from 1pm onwards. 

The protest is expected to see over 1500 people taking part in the action, nearly doubling the number of those arrested so far, making it potentially one of the largest civil disobedience demonstrations in the UK in recent history. 

Joined by other organisations and members of the public, the Witness Bloc intends to document the state’s response to the protest and provide support to those participating in the civil disobedience. 

Saturday’s action will be the fourth such mass civil disobedience protest following the July 2025 proscription of Palestine Action, a group known for taking direct action against Israeli weapons manufacturers based in the UK. 

The protest precedes the judicial review application against the proscription being brought by Palestine Action’s co-founder Huda Ammori in November 2025. 

CAGE International’s  Head of Public Advocacy, Anas Mustapha, said: 

“The upcoming demonstration is expected to swell the record numbers of those already arrested for ‘terrorism’, further bringing into ridicule the entire infrastructure of authoritarian ‘terrorism’ powers. These politicised laws must be abolished now.”   

“The 4 October protest comes days before the second anniversary of the live streamed genocide against the people of Gaza. It also comes at a time when the Palestinians are being forced by Israel with the support of the International community to capitulate and to relinquish their right to resist the occupation. In this context, it becomes ever more important for organisations and communities to come out in support of the Palestinian people.”