'Why I'm risking arrest as a GP over Palestine Action's ban'

One GP shares why they will be risking arrest at a protest against the Government’s proscription of Palestine Action, and explains why healthcare workers participating in activism is so important

Tomorrow, London’s streets will be filled with people marching in support of Palestine and condemning Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip. It is a sight that has become increasingly frequent – not just in the capital, but across the country and globe – since 7 October 2023.

At the same time, a smaller protest will be happening nearby. A group of activists will also gather to specifically protest the Government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action. In June, members of the organisation entered an RAF base in Oxfordshire and sprayed red paint into the engines of two planes, causing an estimated £7m worth of damage to the jets.

At least 500 people are expected to gather at Parliament Square tomorrow to challenge the ban by holding placards that say ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’. Police have threatened mass arrest to all those taking part. I will be one of the activists there, protesting with a bloc of healthcare workers.

We believe that it is important that healthcare professionals are visibly present at this protest. Not to split or divert attention, but to make it clear that there are people from our profession who support this cause. We are trusted members of society, and that trust gives us a platform to speak up.

But we know that our position as healthcare workers does not make us immune to the consequences of peaceful protest. Two GPs in the past few years have been penalised for peaceful activism. In January, Dr Patrick Hart was imprisoned for a year for damaging petrol pumps in a climate protest. And retired GP Dr Sarah Benn was suspended from the medical register for a further 12 months in June after taking part in climate change protests.

I go into tomorrow’s demonstration knowing there is a high risk of arrest, which is obviously scary. I, and those alongside me, know that not only are we putting our jobs at risk – but also our patients. It is not a decision we take lightly, but I believe this makes our actions more impactful. This is something that smart, educated and motivated people have thought about. We have weighed up all the risks and the benefits and still made the decision to be part of this movement

This is about being on the right side of history. The Government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action is built on legally shaky ground. It has intentionally been framed vaguely and loosely – making it incredibly difficult to argue against the terminology they use. ‘Terrorism’ is defined as violence and a threat to life, motivated by a religious, political or ideological purpose. But the UK Government is using the term ‘terrorism’ to mean ‘damaging property’, which is what Palestine Action has been charged with. It is terrifying to see our leaders adjust these definitions to suit their purposes; the way the UK is using the word in this case does not currently fit with international regulations.

Recognising that the proscription order was made on legally fraught ground, Palestine Action won permission to challenge its ban in July, with a High Court hearing later this year. This is a brilliant step, and I hope that the High Court sets a precedent towards reclaiming peaceful protest as part of our right to freedom of speech. I am optimistic we can rescind this definition of ‘terrorist’ groups and the proscription of PA. It gives us hope to stand together collectively, letting large political parties and the police know that so many people are actually against this decision – and that they have an opportunity to correct a huge error.

The importance of protesting Palestine Action’s proscription as healthcare workers comes as a double-edged sword. Yes, having trusted members of society protest makes an impact. However, the flip side of that is the risk of us being used as a deterrent to other citizens. We are concerned that the police will target us as an example; that there will be more conflict between the authorities and groups that they don’t think should be there. By that I mean traditionally law-abiding groups: doctors, nurses, teachers or judges. Any group that has an expectation to stick to a curriculum, but is using their voice to speak out. We know that whistleblowing is a huge issue within the police force: if you speak out, and are one of the first within your profession to do so, then you often suffer repercussions.

As healthcare workers, we are apprehensive that the police will specifically come after us to make an example and say, ‘those doctors should have known better’. And the media would love the image of a doctor in scrubs being dragged away angry. I also worry that because of the incessant demonisation of migrants and refugees – placing the socioeconomic stresses of our country at their feet – rather than blaming the politicians and corporations responsible, that the same depiction could be played out with us. It makes me anxious that this could shift the narrative against doctors, teachers, lawyers and judges who are standing up for what they believe in. The media has a huge role to play in painting both sides of the story, rather than continuously alienating and blaming those who are essentially just suffering repercussions of a greater, catastrophic crisis.

I have seen the devastating consequences of conflict first-hand. Since my days as a junior doctor, I have worked at refugee camps abroad which exposed me to the issues forged from displacement, forced migration, drought, famine etc. But it’s also come to my doorstep when working in London. I have treated and worked with patients forcibly displaced from their country – some from Palestine even. We all want to assume that we’re far removed from global humanitarian disasters, but we’re actually not. Everything is connected, and in the same vein, our role as health workers doesn’t just apply to the individuals we encounter – it extends to public and global healthcare.

As GPs, we are trusted by our patients. They come to us in times of need and when they do not know where to turn. Because of that, I think it is so important that GPs and other HCPs use their voices to demonstrate and show the general public, police and government that we are not going to be implicit to injustices that fracture democracy and contravene human rights.

The author is a GP in London