**UK Home Secretary Bans Palestine Action Under Anti-Terror Laws**
In a move that has sparked widespread controversy, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to prohibit the group Palestine Action under anti-terror laws. The decision comes after activists from the group broke into RAF Brize-Norton in Oxfordshire and painted two military planes with red spray paint.
Cooper described the incident as “disgraceful” and claimed that the group had a “long-standing history” of criminal damages, with activities increasing in frequency and severity since 2024. She stated that the UK’s defense enterprise is vital to national security and that her government will not accept those who put that security at risk.
The move effectively labels Palestine Action as a terrorist organization and, if passed by Parliament, membership and support of the group would be illegal. This could result in up to 14 years of prison for those found guilty.
**Protests and Reactions**
As Cooper announced her intention to ban Palestine Action, hundreds of people attended protests in central London, with 13 arrested after scuffles broke out with police. The protesters carried placards and waved Palestinian flags, chanting “We won’t be silenced”.
Palestine Action called the actions of the government “unhinged” and stated that their actions were a response to the UK government’s complicity with Israel’s genocide in Gaza. They claimed that they were not terrorists, but rather a group of people who participated in direct action to disrupt companies that were arming Israel.
Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf described Cooper’s decision as a “shameful misuse of anti-terror laws” and an “utterly ridiculous overreaction” to intimidate and silence protestors. Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, warned that this move set a dangerous precedent which future governments could use against their critics.
**Background and Context**
Palestine Action has been involved in several high-profile incidents, including the damage of a Thales defense plant in Glasgow using pyrotechnics, smoke bombs, and other explosives. The group claims to be a direct action movement that uses disruptive techniques to target those who are in favor of Israel’s military campaign.
The investigation into the incident at RAF Brize-Norton is being led by police counter-terrorism, with Cooper claiming that the break-in was “epically stupid” and a direct assault on national safety.
**Next Steps**
Cooper will present the draft order to Parliament next week, and if passed, it would be a crime to support or belong to Palestine Action. The shadow defence secretary, James Cartlidge, demanded that those responsible face consequences and asked how this had been allowed to occur.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the ban on Palestine Action has sparked a wider discussion about free speech, protest, and the limits of anti-terror laws in the UK.
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