Former President Donald Trump has declared the British-based activist group Palestine Action a global terrorist organization, imposing sanctions that mirror those against groups like Hamas, al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State. The designation means the organization's assets will be frozen, and U.S. citizens will be prohibited from engaging in business with them. Supporters of the group could face lifetime bans from entering the United States.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury stated that Palestine Action has supported "numerous acts of terrorism since July 2020." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a warning, stating, "Far-left extremists, their fronts, and their enablers should be on notice: We will bring the full weight of our economic tools to bear."
This U.S. action follows a UK ban on the group, which began on July 5 of the previous year. The UK's Court of Appeal ruled in June that the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 was lawful, overturning a previous High Court decision. However, the co-founder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, has received permission to challenge the ban in the UK's Supreme Court on grounds of incorrect policy application by the Home Office.
In response to the U.S. designation, Ammori, who is of Palestinian and Iraqi descent, called the move "beyond hypocritical." She stated on social media, "Trump is the antithesis to everything Palestine Action stands for."
The U.S. Treasury noted that Palestine Action has promoted its activities on social media, encouraging similar tactics internationally, including within the United States and along the U.S.-Mexican border. The group has been sanctioned for allegedly providing financial, material, or technological support for acts of terrorism.
Since the UK proscribed Palestine Action, over 2,700 arrests have been made under the Terrorism Act 2000. Court listings indicate that 1,855 people have been charged with carrying placards in Parliament Square in support of the group. Many of these defendants are in their 60s and 70s.
Earlier this year, four Palestine Action activists were jailed for a raid on the UK factory of Elbit Systems, an Israel-based defense firm. The activists used sledgehammers and crowbars to damage computers and drones. During the incident, one activist struck a police officer with a sledgehammer, causing a fractured spine. A judge ruled the raid constituted an "act of terrorism" intended to influence the UK government and intimidate the public.
The UK's ban makes membership of or support for Palestine Action a criminal offense, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. British citizens Richard Barnard and Huda Ammori co-founded Palestine Action in July 2020.