A pro-Palestinian protest group, Palestine Action, has been designated a terrorist organization by the British government, aligning it legally with groups such as the Islamic State and Al Qaeda. This decision marks the first application of extensive security laws aimed at addressing property damage.
The group has been known for targeting defense companies linked to Israel and vandalizing military aircraft at the UK's largest Royal Air Force base. Palestine Action's attempts to delay the enforcement of this law were unsuccessful, and the ban is set to take effect at midnight local time.
A full legal challenge by Palestine Action against the British government is ongoing, with the next hearing scheduled for July 21.
The ban renders it illegal to be affiliated with Palestine Action, including activities such as fundraising, promoting its actions, organizing meetings, sharing social media content, or wearing merchandise associated with the group.
This action represents the first instance in which the UK government has invoked a 25-year-old terrorism definition encompassing "serious damage to property" to prohibit a group, rather than solely focusing on violence or threats of violence. This move has received criticism from various human rights organizations and international bodies.
United Nations special rapporteurs expressed concerns that the ban could criminalize legitimate protest activities, asserting that property damage not aimed at causing harm should not be classified as terrorism.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that Palestine Action's direct action campaign posed a risk to national security and met the legal criteria for terrorism due to its potential for serious property damage.
Palestine Action sought to prevent the law from taking effect until their legal challenge is heard later this month. However, the High Court judge, Justice Martin Chamberlain, denied this request. An emergency appeal was subsequently rejected by the Court of Appeal.
Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr emphasized that the courts must respect government assessments regarding national security risks and determined that the High Court's decision was correct.
Palestine Action's legal team argued that no substantial justification had been provided for the immediate enforcement of the ban before the upcoming legal proceedings. Raza Husain, a lawyer for the group, highlighted that this was the first application of terrorism laws against a civil disobedience group in Britain.
Another representative, Blinne Ni Ghralaigh, warned that the ban could stifle free speech due to confusion over what actions would be deemed illegal, noting that Palestine Action operates as a loosely connected network without formal membership.
Ben Watson, representing the British government, clarified that the ban would specifically target Palestine Action as an organization, rather than broader political expressions.
The announcement to classify Palestine Action as a terrorist group came on June 23, shortly after activists vandalized military planes at R.A.F. Brize Norton air base, leading to charges against four individuals involved in that incident.
Evidence presented in court indicated that the Home Secretary received advice confirming that Palestine Action met the statutory definition of terrorism shortly after a vandalism incident at President Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.
The legal order to ban Palestine Action was sanctioned by Parliament this week, which also included similar bans on two international neo-Nazi groups known for violence and murder. Some lawmakers expressed that they would have opposed the order had it solely targeted Palestine Action, accusing the government of manipulating parliamentary procedures by bundling multiple groups into one legislative action.