US designates UK-based Palestine Action as terrorist group; co-founder calls move ‘rich’

The US State Department announced the designation of Palestine Action under Executive Order 13224, which allows the government to block assets and prohibit material support to entities deemed to pose a risk of terrorism. The group, founded in 2019, has orchestrated a series of high-profile protests and property damage incidents in the United Kingdom, targeting factories and offices of arms manufacturers such as Elbit Systems, which supplies drones and other equipment to the Israeli military.

Palestine Action describes itself as a ‘direct action network’ opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Its methods have included occupations of buildings, paint splashing, and the destruction of windows and equipment. While the group has faced legal challenges in the UK, including convictions for criminal damage, this is the first time it has been listed by the US as a terrorist organization.

Huda Ammori, the group’s co-founder, dismissed the US move as an attempt to silence legitimate opposition to Israeli policy. ‘To call a nonviolent resistance movement a terrorist group while the US provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel — that’s rich,’ she said. The designation, she argued, conflates civil disobedience with terrorism and risks criminalizing advocacy for Palestinian rights.

The US State Department, in its announcement, cited alleged acts of violence and intimidation by the group, including attacks on personnel and property. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the group’s activities ‘cross the line from lawful protest into terrorism, threatening both public safety and the economic security of companies that are vital to the US defense industrial base.’

The designation has drawn mixed reactions. Some human rights watchdogs argue it sets a dangerous precedent by targeting a group that operates primarily through non-lethal civil disobedience. Others, including pro-Israel advocacy organizations, have praised the move, claiming Palestine Action’s tactics amount to domestic terrorism and should be treated as such.

The UK government has not yet indicated whether it will follow suit. British police have previously arrested dozens of Palestine Action supporters, but the group has not been proscribed as a terrorist organization under UK law. Legal experts say the US designation could complicate the group’s funding and international travel, and may trigger extradition requests.

Why This Matters

The US designation marks a significant escalation in how Washington treats foreign protest groups, potentially setting a precedent for labeling organizations that employ nonviolent direct action as terrorists.
It restricts the ability of Palestine Action to access US financial systems and receive donations from American supporters, affecting the group’s operational capacity.
The move could strain US-UK relations if the British government disagrees with the designation, or it could catalyze a similar proscription in the UK.

Background

Palestine Action was founded in 2019 in the UK as a decentralized network of activists opposed to the Israeli occupation. Its name and logo are modeled on the Animal Liberation Front, a group that has also been designated as a terrorist organization by some governments. The group quickly gained attention for occupying the rooftop of a factory owned by Elbit Systems in Leicester in 2021, hanging a Palestinian flag and causing thousands of pounds in damage. Subsequent actions targeted other defense contractors, banks, and universities with Israeli links.

In the UK, courts have convicted several members for criminal damage and conspiracy to cause damage. The group maintains that its actions are symbolic and nonviolent, though police have described some methods as ‘intimidatory.’ The US has long designated groups that target its allies under counterterrorism authorities, but this is the first time a largely UK-based activist network has been listed.

Key Perspectives

US State Department: Believes Palestine Action’s activities ‘pose a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.’ Palestine Action: Denies being a terrorist organization and frames its actions as legitimate resistance against the occupation. Co-founder Huda Ammori accuses the US of double standards given its support for Israel. Human rights and legal experts: Concerned that the designation conflates nonviolent protest with terrorism, potentially chilling lawful advocacy for Palestinian rights. Some note that the group’s methods, while disruptive, do not involve lethal violence. Pro-Israel groups: Praise the move, arguing that property destruction and intimidation are forms of terrorism that should be prosecuted, and that the US action sends a strong signal against the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

What to Watch

Whether the UK government follows the US by proscribing Palestine Action under its domestic terrorism laws.
Potential legal challenges from the group or civil liberties organizations arguing the designation exceeds executive authority.
Impact on fundraising and whether the designation is used to justify extradition requests for UK-based members.

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