The UK government is seeking to proscribe the pro-Palestinian direct action group under anti-terrorism laws.
The United Kingdom said on June 23 that it would ban a pro-Palestinian campaign group called Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws. This would put the organisation on par with armed groups like al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) in the UK, making it a criminal offence to be part of Palestine Action.
The government’s announcement has prompted criticism from human rights organisations and triggered protests. On Tuesday, 13 people were arrested and seven were charged after protesters in London clashed with Metropolitan Police officers. The charges included assaulting emergency workers and a racially aggravated offence.
Palestine Action describes itself as a movement “committed to ending global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime”. The group was launched in July 2020.
The group says it seeks to use “disruptive tactics” to target “corporate enablers” and companies involved in weapons manufacture for Israel, such as Israel-based Elbit Systems, Italian aerospace company Leonardo, French multinational Thales and United States company Teledyne. The group has targeted British facilities linked to these companies.
