The United Kingdom has officially banned the activist group Palestine Action, declaring it a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000. This means any person supporting, promoting, or joining the group could face up to 14 years in prison, along with possible financial penalties.
The decision follows a high-profile incident where Palestine Action claimed responsibility for damaging two Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft. The group allegedly caused £7 million in losses by spraying paint and tampering with military planes parked at an RAF base. Four activists have already been formally charged in connection with this act of sabotage.
Palestine Action filed a request to temporarily stop the ban, but the High Court rejected their plea. They later moved to the Court of Appeal, hoping to delay or reverse the government’s move, but the appeal was dismissed at the last moment, finalizing the ban’s enforcement.
According to UK media, the country now has 81 proscribed groups under anti-terror laws. These include Hamas, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and far-right group National Action. Adding Palestine Action to this list marks a significant escalation against groups involved in anti-military or anti-Israel protests on UK soil.
Rights groups have criticized the ban, arguing that it could restrict legitimate political protest and freedom of expression. However, British officials insist the group’s repeated attacks on defense-linked companies and public property posed a real security risk that could not be ignored.