UK MPs Ban Palestine Action, Criminalising Support Amid Terror Concerns

The UK government is set to ban the protest group Palestine Action under anti-terror laws, following MPs' vote of 385 to 26 in favor of proscription, which would criminalize membership or support of the group with penalties up to 14 years in prison. The ban comes after Palestine Action claimed responsibility for vandalizing two planes at RAF Brize Norton, actions government officials say crossed the legal threshold into terrorism. Critics argue this move is a disproportionate attack on free speech and the right to non-violent protest, likening it to historical bans on groups like the Suffragettes, and claim the government is succumbing to pressure from pro-Israel lobby groups while suppressing legitimate dissent. Supporters of Palestine Action maintain that the group is non-violent and aims to disrupt arms companies profiting from the Israeli military-industrial complex, framing their actions as preventing greater war crimes. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, and Home Office ministers defend the ban as necessary to protect national security and deny it will impact lawful protests. Large-scale protests are expected outside Parliament in response to the vote, with police preparing for potential disruptions around the estate.