CAA calls on Home Secretary to proscribe Palestine Action under Terrorism Act

Today, Campaign Against Antisemitism has written to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, calling for the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000.

We have provided her with a detailed dossier of evidence demonstrating that the group’s activities fall squarely within the definition of a terrorism organisation.

Palestine Action is a UK-based activist group which was formed in 2020. It has gained attention for what the organisation describes as “direct action” against companies and institutions which it considers to be linked to the Israeli Government, ranging from defence contractors to the BBC. The organisation is known for confrontational and criminal tactics, including damage to property, vandalism and the occupation of corporate or public facilities. Their most notable targets include Elbit Systems, an Israel-based defence contractor with subsidiary facilities throughout the United Kingdom. Since the 7th October 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas and the subsequent war between Hamas and Israel, Palestine Action has increasingly been targeting cultural and educational sites.

The group’s methods often involve the destruction of property, disruption of business operations, and threats to public safety. Palestine Action revels in these activities and writes extensively about them on its website. The organisation has also published a handbook named “The Underground Manual”, which includes instructions on everything from forming “cells”, to how to “pick a target”, and how to commit criminal damage in the most harmful way. The handbook includes instructions on what to wear, how to use a burner phone, and which tools to use to cause the greatest damage.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Today, we have written to the Home Secretary calling for the proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. We have provided her with a detailed dossier of evidence demonstrating that the group’s activities fall, in our view, squarely within the definition of a terrorist organisation.

“We urge the Home Office to act swiftly to ban the group in order to minimise any further intimidation and property damage to the Jewish community and its institutions and to other businesses and cultural establishments.

“Palestine Action is at the vanguard of an activist movement that is severely disrupting the lives of British Jews and the wider public. It is time to enforce the laws of this country and bring to justice those who seek to use what we believe the law defines as terror to advance their goals.”