THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend the next protest against the banning of Palestine Action under terror laws.

Announced today and planned for September 6, organisers Defend Our Juries (DOJ) are hopeful that the demonstration could lead to the ban on the direct action group being lifted, with Yvette Cooper losing her job as home secretary.

At least 532 people — half aged over 60 — were arrested for holding signs in support of Palestine Action, after an estimated 1,000 took part last weekend. 

DOJ said that it expects more will turn up in Parliament Square next time, with “overwhelming” offers of support “from all quarters.”

Former Cabinet member Lord Peter Hain told the Morning Star that he hoped Ms Cooper would reconsider her “bonkers” decision to equate “peaceful,, dignified protests” with the terrorism of al-Qaida or the IRA.

Equating the likes of retired magistrates and serving doctors with al-Qaida was “absolutely wrong,” said the Labour peer.

“I just don’t think being declared [a terror suspect] because you are holding up a placard saying you support rights for Palestinians is acceptable — it’s nonsense.”

Lord Hain, a former leader of the anti-apartheid movement in Britain, added that he was “horrified but not surprised” by the 532 arrests, adding: “I hope there will be a reconsideration because I don’t think this is achieving what it was apparently designed to do.

“I don’t think it’s going to be successful, and indeed it is provoking massive opposition.”

Describing terrorism as a “deliberate policy” of groups such as al-Qaida, Islamic State and the IRA, he said: “Equating that with peaceful dignified protests is just bonkers.

“It devalues what terrorism is: it’s fundamentally about the indiscriminate nature or serious injury to bystanders — innocent people caught up in the crossfire.”

Lord Hain, who voted against the proscription, also warned that there is a “wider hinterland” of opposition from Labour peers who absented themselves rather than be part of the small minority voting against the government.

He said that instead of the blanket ban, the government’s focus should have been on the alleged offences actually committed by members of group, as both the police and courts are massively overstretched following 14 years of Tory austerity.

“What you’re doing to both police and the courts is loading them up with a whole load of unnecessary and unjust cases, it seems to me — these people are not terrorists,” he said.

Downing Street and Ms Cooper claimed that those attending the DOJ protests did not know about the Palestine Action’s violent tendencies.

Hitting back, DOJ and Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori pointed to intelligence assessments released in her legal battle against the ban, which she said contradicted the claims. The High Court will hear her application to get the ban lifted in November.

Today, a spokesman for DOJ said: “With all the real challenges facing the country, it is absurd that the Labour government has generated a political crisis over people quietly holding cardboard signs against genocide in Parliament Square. This won’t be forgiven or forgotten.

“In a desperate attempt to justify their position, Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper have resorted to lying to the public about Palestine Action, claiming it to be a violent organisation, which they know to be false.

“The political ineptitude is staggering. The only beneficiaries of this policy — the brain-child of Lord Walney, a paid lobbyist — are the Israeli government and Elbit Systems, the main manufacturer of the weapons of genocide, with factories across Britain.

“The public response to our protests has been overwhelming. Despite, or because of, the legal risks, the government has turned an arrest for terrorism into a badge of honour. We have been inundated with offers of support from all quarters.

“The protest will go ahead as long as at least 1,000 people commit to taking part. That could well be enough for the ban to be lifted.

“If 5,000 people show up, we’re certain the ban will be gone, and with it, most likely, Yvette Cooper.

“Despite the dirty tricks of the Met Police, lawlessly attacking our communication channels, the protests are now unstoppable. 

“The only way out for the government is to lift the ban, and to stop all arms exports to Israel now, as required by international law.”