The US Treasury Department, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control, has designated the British group Palestine Action as a global terrorist organisation. The group is being placed under US terrorism-related sanctions in the same category as Hamas, al-Qaeda and Islamic State, among others.
Palestine Action is being designated a «Specially Designated Global Terrorist». This means, among other things, that any assets the group has in the United States or that are controlled by US persons are frozen, US citizens and companies are prohibited from having financial dealings with the group, and individuals associated with the organisation may be denied entry to the United States.
– Saving lives by disrupting Israel’s war machine
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in connection with the terrorist designation that «far-left extremists, their fronts and supporters should take note that we will use the full weight of our financial tools», adding that political terrorism has no place in society.
According to US authorities, Palestine Action has «supported a number of acts of terrorism since July 2020». These include actions that have injured British police officers and personnel, as well as acts intended to intimidate lawful businesses and put pressure on the British authorities. Among other things, the group has broken into defence facilities and military installations, causing significant material damage.
Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom in July 2025 under the Terrorism Act, following a series of actions against companies linked to Israel’s defence industry and an intrusion at RAF Brize Norton in which aircraft were sprayed with red paint. The British ban is subject to judicial review.
Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori has called the decision hypocritical. The group claims that its actions are about «saving lives by disrupting the Israeli war machine».
The Trump administration has designated the UK-based far-left group Palestine Action a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, subjecting it to U.S. counterterrorism sanctions alongside Hamas, al-Qaeda, and ISIS. pic.twitter.com/nL6cuVW4hr
— News GB 🇬🇧 (@NewsGBOfficial) September 3, 2026
The UN has criticised the US designation as a «disproportionate and unnecessary restriction» on freedom of expression and assembly.
The United States describes the decision as part of the fight against «transnational far-left terrorism». Other groups were also sanctioned at the same time, including the Italy-based Autistici/Inventati and Masar Badil.
