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US designates UK-based Palestine Action as foreign 'terrorist group'
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Conflict & Security

US designates UK-based Palestine Action as foreign 'terrorist group'

From Dawn · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The U.S. has designated the UK-based Palestine Action group as a global terrorist organization and imposed sanctions.
  • The group, which targets Israel-linked defense companies, is appealing a ban by the British government.
  • Rights groups criticize the ban, arguing it criminalizes dissent, while Palestine Action states its activities aim to disrupt the "Israeli war machine."

The United States has officially designated the UK-based Palestine Action group as a "specially designated global terrorist" organization, also imposing sanctions on the group. The U.S. State Department stated the move was in response to the group's alleged support for "an act of terrorism."

Palestine Action, established in 2020, has been actively targeting defense companies linked to Israel, with a particular focus on Elbit Systems, Israel's largest defense firm. The group is currently appealing a ban imposed by the British government, a move that has led to thousands of arrests. Rights organizations have voiced strong opposition to the UK ban, asserting that it serves to criminalize dissent and suppress activism.

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.

— Huda AmmoriCo-founder of Palestine Action, commenting on the U.S. designation and its implications for free speech.

Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, responded to the U.S. designation by stating that the group's actions are "about saving lives by disrupting the Israeli war machine." She criticized the U.S. administration, suggesting it is drawing inspiration from Britain's actions against the movement for Palestinian freedom. Ammori warned that this trend should serve as a "wake-up call" for those concerned with free speech and civil liberties.

The U.S. Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on the transnational group Masar Badil, saying it operates as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

— US State Department spokesperson Tommy PiggotDeclaring three groups, including Palestine Action, as "violent far-left terrorist groups."

Palestine Action's stated objective is to end "global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime." The group gained prominence following Israel's military operations in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. The U.S. designation comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to label groups it terms "far-left" as terrorist organizations. The U.S. also designated Italy-based Autistici/Inventati and the transnational group Masar Badil, which it claims is a front for the designated Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent affirmed that Washington would utilize "the full weight of our economic tools to bear" against such groups, stating, "Political terrorism has no place in our society, and we will continue to cut the financial lifelines of these groups until they are eliminated." This action follows Amnesty International's April statement criticizing leaders of the U.S., Israel, and Russia for allegedly imposing a new "predatory" world order through crackdowns on dissent.

Political terrorism has no place in our society, and we will continue to cut the financial lifelines of these groups until they are eliminated.

— Scott BessentU.S. Treasury Secretary, explaining Washington's stance on designated groups.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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