UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has reiterated her defense of the government’s ban on Palestine Action, emphasizing that the group’s activities extend beyond peaceful protest and justify its classification as a terrorist organization. Her comments coincide with police announcing charges against 60 additional individuals for supporting the banned group.
Yvette Cooper, the UK Home Secretary, spearheaded the defense of the government’s position while addressing recent developments. Palestine Action, the group at the center of the controversy, was formally banned on July 5, 2025. The 60 newly charged individuals are part of a broader crackdown that has seen over 700 arrests since the ban, including 500 demonstrators detained at a London protest last week and 13 arrested in Norwich on August 16.
The government’s proscription makes membership or support of Palestine Action a criminal offense carrying up to 14 years in prison. Cooper justified this by detailing the group’s alleged activities, which she claims include violent disorder, aggravated burglary, and targeted attacks on defense facilities like the £7 million damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton in June. She specifically referenced an ‘Underground Manual’ allegedly encouraging members to form cells, identify targets, and evade law enforcement.
The timing of Cooper’s renewed defense aligns with the Metropolitan Police’s August 16 announcement of additional prosecutions. These legal actions unfold as Palestine Action prepares a High Court challenge in November 2025, arguing the ban violates free speech and suppresses legitimate protest over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Geographically, events span multiple UK locations. While Cooper’s public statements address national policy, arrests have occurred from London to Norwich, with police indicating more prosecutions are imminent. The group’s activities have primarily targeted arms companies like Elbit Systems UK, which supplies components for Israeli F-35 fighter jets used in Gaza.
Cooper contends the ban responds to Palestine Action’s escalation from protest to criminal operations, including an August 2024 Bristol break-in that injured security and police personnel. She maintains that some supporters are unaware of the group’s ‘full nature,’ having been drawn to its cause through humanitarian concerns about Gaza. The government aims to prevent further violence while navigating criticism that the measure conflates activism with terrorism.
Human rights organizations including Amnesty International have condemned the ban and subsequent arrests as disproportionate. Amnesty’s CEO Sacha Deshmukh called UK terrorism laws ‘excessively broad,’ warning they threaten freedom of expression. This tension highlights the balancing act between national security and civil liberties amid heightened tensions over the Gaza conflict.
The situation remains dynamic, with ongoing legal challenges and potential further protests. The High Court’s November ruling on Palestine Action’s appeal could set significant precedents for protest rights in the UK. Meanwhile, police continue investigations into the group’s activities and funding sources, suggesting additional charges may follow.