Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack speaks out after the arrest: “It's madness”

After being arrested in London during a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action, Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack took to Instagram to give his account of what happened and clarify his position. The arrest took place while the musician was holding up a sign reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, during a protest that led to the arrest of hundreds of people.

“During Israel's genocide in Gaza, most people, myself included, felt like they were slowly going mad”, Del Naja writes. “How is it possible that the world, including the British government, allows something like this to happen? That feeling of madness was compounded by the baffling policies of much of the British media (the BBC included), who refused to name who was committing one atrocity after another, again and again. It was Israel, everyone knew it was Israel. Why not say so?”.

In his statement, the artist openly challenges the use of anti-terrorism legislation against non-violent demonstrations and points to recent court rulings that have questioned the legitimacy of some arrests linked to these protests. “Speaking of madness, in Britain in 2026 you can be arrested under the Terrorism Act simply for sitting in silence, holding a sign that says you oppose genocide and support non-violent action to stop it. Obviously everyone knows this is sheer madness (including many of the police officers making the arrests and the High Court judges who have recently ruled them unlawful), and yet, somehow, it carries on regardless. Everyone also knows that the sheer desperation of Palestine Action activists vandalising military equipment is not terrorism. Nobody really believes that. Many senior members and advisers of this government belong to an ideological bloc that believes “war is peace” and ignored millions of peaceful protesters against the illegal invasion of Iraq. Their arrogance and cold indifference create the desperation they are then determined to crush in the courts”.

 

 

 

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A post shared by Robert Del Naja (@robert3delnaja)

The argument then widens to the role of Britain's institutions and media, accused of contributing to a political climate that, according to Del Naja, fuels tension and entrenchment rather than addressing its root causes. “This feeling of madness can be overcome. We can demand that our government respect the international law that generations gave their lives for. UK citizens will be less desperate (and our courts less overloaded) once our country acts with the integrity shown by Spain, which has refused to let its territory and resources be used by the United States and Israel to commit war crimes”.

In closing, the Massive Attack musician frames his arrest as part of a wider tradition of civil disobedience, in which even the smallest actions carry political weight. “To achieve these vital goals, a few hours in police custody after an unlawful arrest is a small price to pay. The democracy, civil rights and freedoms that are now enshrined in the Constitution were literally built on small gestures like these. Maybe that's why this draconian government wants to crush them? Free Palestine. No to war.”

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