Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja Arrested at Pro-Palestine Protest

Robert Del Naja Detained During Liverpool Protest Over Palestine Action Ban

Tempatdonasi.com – Robert Del Naja, a founding member of Massive Attack, was arrested in Liverpool on Saturday, September 26, while taking part in a protest supporting Palestine Action. The demonstration took place outside the venue hosting the Labour Party conference, scheduled to open the following day.

Del Naja held a placard carrying the message:

I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

Palestine Action is listed as a proscribed organization in the United Kingdom, meaning membership or public expressions of support can carry criminal consequences under terrorism legislation. The group’s designation has become the focus of the “Lift the Ban” campaign, organized by Defend Our Juries.

Police Intervention at the Demonstration

Footage shared by Defend Our Juries showed officers approaching Del Naja and telling him he needed to leave because he was committing an offence. The musician challenged the grounds for the action, arguing that British law also addresses assistance for people or companies involved in what he called genocidal war crimes.

An officer asked whether he knew that Palestine Action had been proscribed. Del Naja replied that he did not accept the decision to ban the group. A second officer then informed him of the reason for his detention.

You’re under arrest for supporting a proscribed organisation.

The exchange highlights the tension at the heart of the current campaign: protesters argue that their statements concern political opposition to the ban, while authorities treat stated support for Palestine Action as falling within the restrictions created by proscription.

Campaign Calls for Palestine Action to Be De-Proscribed

Earlier that day, Del Naja appeared in a pre-recorded message alongside Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori and human rights barrister Michael Mansfield KC. The three urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reverse the government’s decision.

We don’t believe that you believe that these citizens are terrorists.

The message referred to people who have been arrested in connection with support for Palestine Action. It continued with a direct appeal to the prime minister:

So we ask you to stop what is obviously wrong. De-proscribe Palestine Action.

The protest and arrest came just before the Labour Party conference, Burnham’s first party gathering in that role since he became prime minister in July. For campaigners, the timing placed the issue of protest rights and anti-terror legislation directly alongside a major political event.

What the Proscription Means

The UK government added Palestine Action to its list of proscribed organizations in July 2025 under the Terrorism Act 2000. The designation makes it an offence to belong to the organization or to express support for it.

Such legal restrictions have broad practical implications for demonstrations, public messaging, and political advocacy. Protesters can face scrutiny not only for organizational involvement but also for the language and symbols they use in public. The “Lift the Ban” campaign is centered on reversing that classification and challenging the idea that support for Palestine Action should be treated as support for terrorism.

Del Naja had previously been detained during a similar protest in London in April, when hundreds of people were arrested in a demonstration connected to Palestine Action. His latest arrest places a prominent musician at the center of a debate that has increasingly involved activists, lawyers, artists, and political figures.

Massive Attack’s Record of Palestinian Advocacy

Massive Attack have spoken publicly for years in support of Palestinians and have participated in initiatives criticizing restrictions on pro-Palestinian expression. Del Naja and fellow band member Grant Marshall were barred from performing in or entering Singapore in July after a Palestinian flag appeared during a Massive Attack concert.

The band have also aligned with other musicians in campaigns that oppose what participants describe as censorship of pro-Palestinian voices. Their public interventions have made the group one of the more visible musical acts engaging with the political and humanitarian consequences of the conflict.

Del Naja’s arrest in Liverpool therefore extends an existing pattern of advocacy rather than marking a new position for the artist. It also underscores how cultural figures can become part of legal and political disputes when public expression intersects with laws governing proscribed groups.

As the “Lift the Ban” campaign continues, the case is likely to keep attention on the boundaries between protest, political speech, and criminal liability in the United Kingdom. For those supporting the campaign, the central demand remains clear: remove Palestine Action from the proscribed list. For law enforcement, the current legal designation remains in force.