UK Parliament Votes to Proscribe Palestine Action as Terrorist Organization

London, July 4, 2025 – The UK Parliament has voted overwhelmingly, 385 to 26, to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000, making it illegal to support or be a member of the group. The decision, led by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, follows a series of high-profile direct actions by the group, most notably a break-in at RAF Brize Norton last month in which activists caused approximately £7 million in damage to two military aircraft by spraying them with red paint.

The proscription, set to take effect at midnight following approval by both the House of Commons and House of Lords, carries severe penalties: membership or public support for Palestine Action can now result in up to 14 years in prison. The order also targets the Maniacs Murder Cult and the Russian Imperial Movement, both white supremacist organizations, as part of a broader government crackdown on groups deemed threats to national security.

Founded in 2020, Palestine Action has focused its campaign on disrupting the operations of Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems in the UK, using tactics such as property destruction, occupations, and blockades to protest British involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict. The group claims its actions are aimed at halting arms supplies linked to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

The government’s move has sparked immediate controversy and legal challenges. Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, sought an urgent injunction in the High Court to temporarily block the ban, arguing that the group does not advocate violence and that the proscription represents an unprecedented attack on the right to protest and free speech. Justice Martin Chamberlain rejected the request, stating that the public interest in maintaining the order outweighed the potential harm if the claim later succeeded. Lawyers for Ammori were also denied permission to appeal, though an urgent appeal is being pursued.

Critics, including human rights organizations and some MPs, have condemned the proscription as a “draconian” and “authoritarian” measure that threatens civil liberties and sets a dangerous precedent for the criminalization of protest. Global Witness and Amnesty International have warned that the move undermines democracy and the right to dissent, drawing comparisons to the historical treatment of the suffragettes and other civil disobedience movements.

Supporters of the ban, including government officials, argue that Palestine Action’s escalating tactics—such as attacks on defense facilities and businesses—have crossed the threshold from protest to terrorism, justifying the group’s inclusion alongside organizations like Hamas and al-Qaeda under UK law.

A full hearing on the legality of the government’s decision is expected later in July, as public debate continues over the balance between national security and the right to protest.