US designates UK-based Palestine Action ‘terrorist organisation’

The United States has designated the UK-based Palestine Action as a “specially designated global terrorist” organisation and imposed sanctions on the group.

The US government said the sanctions were linked to the group’s alleged support for an act of terrorism.

Palestine Action was founded in 2020 and is currently challenging a ban imposed on it by the British government. The ban has resulted in thousands of arrests and has been criticised by rights organisations, which say it unfairly targets political dissent.

The group says its aim is to end what it describes as global support for Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

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Palestine Action became more widely known following Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas fighters in southern Israel.

The move is part of a broader push by US President Donald Trump’s administration against groups it describes as far-left organisations.

The US also designated Italy-based Autistici/Inventati, also known as the A/I Collective, and the pro-Palestinian group Masar Badil as terrorist organisations.

US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott described the three groups as “violent far-left terrorist groups.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US would use its financial powers against such 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,” Bessent said.

In April, Amnesty International accused the leaders of the United States, Israel and Russia of pushing what it described as a new “predatory” world order through crackdowns on dissent.