UK's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that she will move to proscribe the protest group Palestine Action under the UK바카라s counter-terrorism legislation, a move that would make membership or support of the group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The decision follows an incident last Friday in which activists from the group broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and spray-painted two military aircraft red, BBC reported. Cooper condemned the act as 바카라disgraceful바카라 and cited a "long history" of criminal damage by the group, warning that its activity had "increased in frequency and severity" since 2024.
바카라If approved by Parliament, this ban will effectively designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation,바카라 the Home Secretary said. 바카라The UK바카라s defence enterprise is vital to our national security, and this government will not tolerate those who threaten it.바카라
Palestine Action responded to the announcement by calling the move "unhinged," accusing the government of targeting peaceful dissent. The group described itself as a 바카라direct action movement바카라 committed to disrupting companies that support Israel바카라s military operations.
During a protest in central London held shortly before the ban was announced, hundreds gathered in support of the group. Thirteen people were arrested following clashes with police.
Cooper stressed that the government바카라s action is specific to Palestine Action and does not apply to peaceful protest or other pro-Palestinian campaign groups. 바카라It is vitally important that those seeking to protest peacefully, including those critical of Israeli government actions, can continue to do so within the law,바카라 she said.
Founded in 2020, Palestine Action has frequently targeted defence contractors and firms with ties to Israel, including Elbit Systems UK and Thales. In one 2022 incident, activists caused over £1.1 million in damage at a Thales site in Glasgow using pyrotechnics and smoke bombs.
Cooper also referenced break-ins at a weapons factory in Kent and the headquarters of Elbit Systems in Bristol as examples of the group바카라s increasing militancy. The government believes Palestine Action now meets the legal definition of a terrorist group under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Friday incident at RAF Brize Norton is being investigated by counter-terrorism police. According to Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard, two RAF Voyager aircraft were damaged by red paint, but operations were unaffected. He described the breach as 바카라epically stupid바카라 and 바카라a direct attack on national security,바카라 adding that enhanced security measures have been implemented across UK defence sites.
In a statement, Palestine Action defended its actions: 바카라The real crime here is not red paint on warplanes, but the war crimes enabled by those planes due to the UK바카라s complicity in Israel바카라s genocide.바카라 The group said it is preparing a legal challenge against the proposed ban and insisted it should not be equated with terrorist organisations like ISIS or Boko Haram.
Israel has strongly denied allegations of genocide related to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Cooper is expected to lay the draft proscription order before Parliament next week. If approved, the ban will come into force immediately, making it a criminal offence to belong to, support, promote, or wear symbols associated with Palestine Action.
