Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans to ban Palestine Action, labelling the group a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The decision follows a recent break-in by activists at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where they spray-painted two military aircraft red—a move Cooper condemned as "disgraceful."
If approved by Parliament, the proscription will make it illegal to be a member of or support the group, carrying penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
Cooper said Palestine Action has a "long history" of criminal damage, with actions escalating in "frequency and severity" since 2024. She stressed the ban would not affect lawful protest groups.
“The UK's defence enterprise is vital to national security,” she said. “We will not tolerate those who put that at risk.”
Palestine Action responded, calling the move "unhinged" and accusing the government of attempting to silence dissent. “We are teachers, nurses, students, and parents… not terrorists,” the group said in a statement, adding that legal challenges are being pursued.
Formed in 2020, the group uses direct action to target organisations it claims are complicit in Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Past protests include breaking into the Thales weapons factory in Glasgow, causing over £1.1 million in damages, and entering facilities linked to Elbit Systems UK.
Friday’s Brize Norton breach is now being investigated by counter-terrorism police. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard called the act “epically stupid” and a “direct attack on national security,” although he confirmed no operational disruption occurred.
Palestine Action defended the protest, stating the true crime is “the war crimes enabled by those planes.” They compared the government's reaction to ranking them alongside groups like ISIS and Boko Haram.
The move has sparked political debate. Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf called it “a shameful abuse of anti-terror laws.” Labour MP Nadia Whittome warned it set a "dangerous precedent." Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves called the group’s actions “totally unacceptable.”
On Monday, hundreds of Palestine Action supporters gathered in Trafalgar Square after police barred a protest outside Parliament. The Metropolitan Police enforced restrictions under public order laws, citing safety concerns. Thirteen arrests were made for various offences, including assaulting emergency workers and refusing to disperse.
Cooper is expected to present the draft ban to Parliament next week. If passed, it will come into force shortly afterward. Photo by OwenBlacker, Wikimedia commons.
