The British government announced on Monday its decision to ban the pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws. This move comes after members of the group broke into a military base and vandalized two planes last week. The ban makes it a criminal offense to belong to or support the group, with a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
During a demonstration in central London, clashes erupted between protesters in support of Palestine Action and the police. The group’s members had entered the Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton and damaged two planes with red paint. Video footage released by the group showed one activist spraying paint into a jet’s turbine engines. The group accused Britain of participating in the Gaza genocide and condemned the country for its military actions in the Middle East.
The incident at the base is currently under investigation by counter-terror police. Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley described Palestine Action as an “organized extremist criminal group,” while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper criticized the group for its history of criminal damage. Cooper highlighted the group’s previous actions, including an attack on a defense factory in Glasgow in 2022, which resulted in millions of pounds worth of damage.
In March, Palestine Action targeted one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s golf resorts in Scotland, painting “Gaza is Not For Sale” on the lawn in response to his proposal to relocate the Palestinian population in Gaza. The government plans to lay a draft order in Parliament next week for lawmakers to approve the ban on Palestine Action. This decision adds the group to a list of about 80 organizations, including Hamas and al-Qaida, that have been proscribed by the British government under anti-terrorism laws.
