Eighteen individuals have appeared in court following protests in Cardiff in June against the ongoing war in Gaza. The group, comprising 10 women and 8 men, faces several charges, including assaulting an emergency worker, locking onto a person to cause serious disruption to South Wales Police, obstructing an officer, wilful obstruction of the highway, and public order offenses.
The defendants, who gave addresses across south Wales, Cornwall, and Hertfordshire, all deny the charges. They have been granted unconditional bail and are set to return to Cardiff Magistrates Court in the New Year.
The charges stem from a protest on June 4, 2024, near the front desk area of Cardiff Bay police station. According to South Wales Police, 16 arrests were made following the demonstration. These arrests came hours after a previous protest earlier in the day in central Cardiff, which involved around 50 to 60 people.
The war, which escalated after Hamas-led gunmen carried out an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties. Approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 others were taken hostage during the attack. The Hamas-run health ministry claims that more than 45,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
