Police arrested two people demonstrating outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on September 27. The event is taking place Wednesday (September 30) at various venues across the city.
Throughout the first day of the conference, more than 200 protesters sat outside, with many holding home-made banners which read: “I support Palestine Action,” the banned group, and “I oppose genocide.”
Elderly man detained under tree
Scores of officers stood by before moving in to detain an elderly man who was sitting under a tree. Police then made another arrest after telling a protester he was holding up a sign supporting a proscribed organisation. After asking the man if he was going to continue holding up the sign, police led him away.
More protesters are expected to sit in the same spot as those who have been arrested.
Government sanctions and trade ban
It comes after Andy Burnham set out new sanctions earlier this month and 'carefully judged, targeted steps' over what he called 'the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government'. The Prime Minister's comments come as Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Writing on social media, the PM said it was 'more important than ever that Britain stands for something' - and called the 'suffering' of people in Palestine 'a scar on the conscience of the world'. He went on to announce there would be 'a new package of desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza' - although details of what that might involve weren't referenced.
Occupation deemed unlawful
And, confirming Mr Milliband's comments in the Commons, he said the view of the British government would now be that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory 'is unlawful'. Individuals and companies that 'support, facilitate or profit from illegal settlements' in the West Bank, he added, would face sanctions.
"We have called for years for a two-state solution in the Middle East, but we must recognise that those words are meaningless unless we back them up with action," Mr Burnham wrote.
