A pro-Palestinian activist group known as Palestine Action has been officially classified as a terrorist organization by the British government, a decision that aligns it legally with notorious groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda. This ruling follows the group's history of protests targeting defense companies connected to Israel, including vandalism at a major Royal Air Force base.
Despite their efforts to challenge this designation, Palestine Action’s request for a temporary pause on the ban was denied, and the ban will come into effect at midnight local time. As it stands, being a member of or supporting Palestine Action in various ways—including fundraising, public endorsements, and even wearing merchandise—will now be illegal.
Critics have raised alarms over this unprecedented use of a 25-year-old terrorism law aimed at serious property damage, rather than violence itself. Human rights organizations, including United Nations special rapporteurs, argue that this ruling risks criminalizing peaceful protest activities that do not intend to harm individuals. A hearing for Palestine Action’s ongoing legal challenge is set for July 21.
