Ban on Palestine Action: 60 individuals await charges

• More than 700 individuals have been banned from the moment Palestine Action was banned.
• Cooper claims that the group has a terrorist nature.
• The appeal against the ban will be heard in the High Court in November.

EPA

The Secretary of State, Yvette Cooper, has once again described the banned group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. She asserts that this group is more than just a "normal protest organization known for episodic actions."

In an article for The Observer, Cooper noted that the group took it upon themselves to be responsible for actions, some of which resulted in participants receiving charges for violent crimes. She also added that the Crown Prosecution Service assessed these charges as related to terrorism.

These comments came after the London police announced new charges against 60 individuals who supported Palestine Action. Since the ban on the group on July 5, more than 700 individuals have been banned, including over 500 at a demonstration in central London last week.

On Saturday, Norfolk police arrested 13 individuals who supported the group during a protest in the center of Norwich. The London police also reported that additional charges are pending.

Cooper stated that the activities of Palestine Action are primarily focused on vandalism and that they have caused losses amounting to approximately £7 million during attacks on aircraft in June.

The Secretary of State emphasized that the group promotes what is called "insurgent leadership," which leads to the creation of centers, providing practical advice on choosing targets for attacks and evading from human rights organizations. She asserts that such actions are not characteristics of legally protest-oriented organizations.

Cooper also pointed out that some of those who support Palestine Action through the humanitarian situation in Gaza do not understand the true nature of the group. She urged not to allow the closure of peace in the Middle East to turn into a campaign supporting a group that engages in racism in Great Britain.

The ban on Palestine Action means that membership or support of this group has become a criminal offense, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Last month, the group received permission to appeal the ban, and its case will be heard in the High Court in November, as it claims that the ban violates the right to freedom of speech.

Human rights organizations have also criticized the ban on Palestine Action and the arrest of dozens of people. The General Director of Amnesty International, Sasha Deshmukh, previously stated that the reaction to the protest was disproportionate, emphasizing that the legislation on terrorism in Great Britain is overly broad and threatens freedom of expression.

Although Great Britain is not one of the main suppliers of arms to Israel, it does supply some components for the F-35 fighters, which are actively used by Israel for strikes on Gaza. The Royal Air Force has also conducted several reconnaissance flights over Gaza since June 2023.

However, the Minister of State for Northern Ireland stated that these flights did not involve military intelligence sharing with the Israeli army.

Tags: Europe/Politics/Crime