Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja Arrested at Palestine Action Protest

Massive Attack’s Robert “3D” Del Naja was one of over 500 protesters arrested in London on Saturday (April 11) for attending a demonstration in support of the activist group Palestine Action. Del Naja can be seen in photos holding a sign that reads “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” He is charged with suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organization.

“Throughout the Israeli genocide in Gaza most people, myself included, felt like they were gradually going mad,” Del Naja wrote on Instagram following his arrest. “On the topic of madness, in Britain in 2026 you can be arrested under the Terrorism Act for sitting in silence, holding a cardboard sign stating that you oppose genocide & support non-violent action to prevent it.

“UK citizens will feel less desperation (& our overwhelmed courts will be quieter) if our country acts with the integrity of neighbours such as Spain; calmly declining the use of their territory & assets for illegal US / Israeli war crimes. To these vital ends, a few hours in police custody under unlawful arrest is a very small price to pay.” The statement ends with a call of “Free Palestine. No wars.” Read it in full below.

Palestine Action is currently designated as a terrorist organization in the United Kingdom. In February, the High Court ruled that the ban is unlawful, but it remains in place while the UK government appeals the decision. To date, more than 2,200 people have been arrested for allegedly supporting Palestine Action, including an 84-year-old priest and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

Footage from Saturday shows Del Naja being taken into custody by Metropolitan police. Prior to the protest, he had told the Press Association, “I think that the actions of Palestine Action were highly patriotic because they were pretty much protecting our country from getting involved in serious war crimes and breaking international law. How much more patriotic can you be than that?”

Last year, Massive Attack stated their intention to pull their music from Spotify, joining a growing number of artists who have removed their catalogs from the streaming platform in protest of executive chair Daniel Ek’s investments in AI military technology through his VC fund, Prima Materia. Del Naja and his bandmate, Grant Marshall, were early supporters of the ongoing No Music for Genocide campaign, which calls on artists and labels to geo-block their music from streaming in Israel. They’ll allegedly release new music some time this year.

Throughout the Israeli genocide in Gaza most people, myself included, felt like they were gradually going mad. How could the world, including the British government, possibly allow this to happen?

That sense of madness was compounded by the inexplicable policies of many British news outlets (including the BBC) who refused to name the identity committing one atrocity after another, after another. It was Israel, & everybody knew it was Israel. Why wouldn't they say so?

On the topic of madness, in Britain in 2026 you can be arrested under the Terrorism Act for sitting in silence, holding a cardboard sign stating that you oppose genocide & support non-violent action to prevent it.

Of course, everyone knows this is total madness (including many of the police officers making these arrests, and the High Court judges who recently ruled them unlawful), and yet, somehow it continues.

Everyone also knows that the sheer desperation of ‘Palestine Action’ activists vandalising military equipment isn't terrorism. No one actually believes that.

Many members of, & senior advisers to this government belong to a ‘war is peace’ ideological party block that ignored millions of peaceful marchers to illegally invade Iraq. Their brand of arrogance & callous indifference creates the human desperation they're hellbent on crushing in the courts.