US Designates UK-Based Pro-Palestinian Group Palestine Action as Terrorist Organization

The United States has officially designated the British pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. This designation will freeze all its assets in the US, prohibit American citizens and companies from engaging with it, and impose sanctions on those who violate these rules. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant emphasized that the government will use all available economic tools to dismantle what he called "extreme left-wing terror," stating, "There is no place for political terror in our society."

This move follows the UK’s decision to ban Palestine Action in July 2025 after a series of violent actions, including a break-in at the Elbit Systems factory in Bristol causing over one million dollars in damage, assaults on police officers, and vandalism of two military aircraft at the Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton on June 20, 2025. Since the UK ban, over 3,400 supporters have been arrested, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The UK courts have upheld the ban as lawful while appeals are pending at the Supreme Court.

The US action aligns with a broader policy under President Donald Trump’s administration targeting extreme left-wing groups. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced intensified international efforts against such terrorism earlier this year, raising concerns among Democrats about potential politicization of enforcement.

Huda Amouri, one of Palestine Action’s founders, responded by stating their activities aim to "save lives by disrupting Israel’s war machine." She criticized Trump’s inspiration from the UK crackdown as a wake-up call for defenders of free speech and civil liberties.