The United States has imposed sanctions on the UK-based group Palestine Action, designating it as a terrorist organization. The Department of the Treasury announced the action on Wednesday, accusing the group of supporting "numerous acts of terrorism since July 2020."
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that "far-left extremists, their fronts, and their enablers should be on notice." He added, "Political terrorism has no place in our society, and we will continue to cut the financial lifelines of these groups until they are eliminated."
The Treasury Department's statement detailed that Palestine Action's alleged actions have included physically injuring UK law enforcement personnel and attempts to intimidate commercial enterprises and coerce the UK government. The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. initiative targeting what the Trump administration describes as far-left terror organizations globally.
Palestine Action, which has employed direct action tactics targeting companies linked to Israel in the UK, has been involved in a legal dispute regarding its activities. In June, the UK government banned the group under anti-terror legislation, a move that made supporting Palestine Action illegal in the UK in 2025. While Court of Appeal judges upheld the ban as a "justified and proportionate" measure impacting freedom of expression, Palestine Action has since been granted permission to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
The group's activities have led to legal consequences for its members. In June, four members were sentenced to prison for a break-in at a defense firm that resulted in over £1 million in damages. One individual received a sentence for causing grievous bodily harm to a police officer who was struck with a sledgehammer during the incident.
Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, responded to the U.S. designation, calling it "beyond hypocritical" for the country she believes has impacted her homelands to label her a terrorist. In a statement to the BBC, Ammori asserted that the group's actions have "always been about saving lives" and that the ban should serve as a "wake-up call to anyone who cares about free speech and democracy."