The United States has designated the UK-based pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action as a “specially designated global terrorist” organisation and imposed sanctions on it, citing allegations of support for “an act of terrorism”.
The move comes after the British government banned Palestine Action, a decision the group is challenging in court. The ban has resulted in thousands of arrests and has been criticised by rights groups, which argue that it seeks to criminalise dissent.
Founded in 2020, Palestine Action has primarily targeted Israel-linked defence companies operating in Britain, particularly Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest defence firm.
Responding to the US designation, Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori said the group’s activities “have always been about saving lives by disrupting the Israeli war machine”.
“The fact that Trump is now taking inspiration from Britain’s repression of the movement for Palestinian freedom exposes just how dangerous this ban is and should be a wake-up call to anyone who cares about free speech and civil liberties,” Ammori said in a statement to Reuters.
The group says its objective is to end “global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime”.
Palestine Action gained greater prominence following Israel’s military assault on Gaza after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas fighters in southern Israel.
Since beginning his second term, US President Donald Trump has directed his administration to designate groups described by his government as “far-left” organisations as terrorist groups.
The US action on Wednesday also designated the Italy-based Autistici/Inventati, also known as the A/I Collective, as a “terrorist” organisation.
In addition, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the transnational group Masar Badil, alleging that it operates as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which had already been designated by Washington as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
US State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggot described all three groups, including Palestine Action, as “violent far-left terrorist groups”.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would use “the full weight of our economic tools” against groups it classifies as far-left terrorist organisations.
“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 move follows growing concerns raised by human rights organisations about government crackdowns on dissent. In April, Amnesty International said that leaders of the United States, Israel and Russia were pursuing a new “predatory” world order.
