MPs vote to support proscribing Palestine Action as terror group
Nine Labour MPs vote against banning Palestine Action
- The UK Parliament has voted to proscribe the direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000, with a significant majority in the House of Commons.
- The government justified the ban by citing a “long history of unacceptable criminal damage” by Palestine Action, including recent incidents at RAF Brize Norton and an Israeli defence company's UK headquarters.
- Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that “violence and serious criminal damage has no place in legitimate protest”, while Security Minister Dan Jarvis emphasised that proscription is based on an organisation's actions.
- Critics, including some MPs and protesters, condemned the move as “draconian overreach”, arguing that Palestine Action's tactics are non-violent and aimed at disrupting arms flow; nine Labour MPs voted against the ban.
- The legislation is now expected to be debated and voted on by the House of Lords before becoming law, with Palestine Action indicating plans to challenge the decision legally.