Trump administration designates Palestine Action a terrorist group

Palestine Action has been designated a terrorist group by the US government, which has announced targeted sanctions against the UK-based direct action group.

The Department of the Treasury confirmed it had "taken action" against the network , accusing it of supporting "numerous acts of terrorism since July 2020".

All property belonging to the organisation in the US, or under the possession or control of American citizens, has been blocked.

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said: "Far-left extremists, their fronts, and their enablers should be on notice: We will bring the full weight of our economic tools to bear.

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

The sanctions follow a Court of Appeal ruling in June which deemed the UK Government’s ban on the organisation a "justified and proportionate" restriction on freedom of expression rights.

However, Palestine Action’s co-founder may still challenge the ban in the Supreme Court.

The Trump administration stated that Palestine Action has "promoted its violent, criminal, and terrorist acts on social media, encouraging the use of similar tactics internationally, including within the United States and along the US-Mexican border".

The US Treasury noted the group was sanctioned for having "materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods and services to or in support of, an act of terrorism,".

The designation prevents US citizens from conducting any business with the group or contributing funds to it.

Co-founder Huda Ammori responded on X, stating: "Trump has just designated Palestine Action a terrorist group.

"As a Palestinian and Iraqi, the fact the country which destroyed both my homelands is calling me a terrorist is beyond hypocritical.

The group's UK ban, introduced on July 5 last year, makes membership or support a crime carrying up to 14 years in prison.

Police have made mass arrests at demonstrations where protesters displayed badges or placards reading "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action".