LONDON, UK (The Guardian)—UK ministers proceeded with the proscription of the activist group Palestine Action despite receiving explicit warnings from government advisers that the ban could “inadvertently enhance” the group’s profile and increase its public support, according to a leaked official briefing paper.
The document, prepared by officials from the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, was written three months before the group—which engages in direct action to disrupt the UK’s arms supply to Israel—was officially banned under terrorism laws in June.
The Warning: “Inadvertently Enhanced” Profile
The core warning in the briefing paper was rooted in public sentiment regarding the conflict. Advisers noted survey findings showing “growing frustration with Israeli military methods” and significant public support for a ban on UK arms shipments to Israel.
The paper concluded that since Palestine Action forms its identity around resisting the Israeli arms trade in Britain:
“In the event that PAG [Palestine Action Group] is proscribed, their profile may inadvertently be enhanced, finding support among similarly minded members of the public who oppose the British footprint in the Israeli arms industry.”
Furthermore, the document warned that utilizing terrorism laws for the ban could become a “flashpoint for significant controversy and criticism,” potentially heightening Muslim-Jewish tensions and being perceived as government bias in favour of Israel.
Civil Liberties Concerns
The advisory paper also touched on concerns about civil liberties, cautioning that the decision could be viewed by the wider public as a “creep of terrorism powers into the realm of free expression and protest.”
Since the ban was enacted, hundreds of arrests have been made at protests where individuals held signs in support of the group.
Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, claimed the advisers’ warnings have proven accurate, stating that the group’s “Awareness of the issues and popularity of the group have grown exponentially. The ban has backfired.”
Government Defence
The ban was announced by the then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper following alleged extensive damage caused by the group’s activists at RAF Brize Norton.
A Home Office spokesperson defended the decision, stating that Palestine Action had “conducted an escalating campaign involving criminal damage to Britain’s national security infrastructure, intimidation, and alleged violence,” which “puts the safety and security of the public at risk.” The spokesperson insisted that decisions on proscription are informed by a robust, evidence-based process with contributions from various experts.
Aleda Kawis is the Professional Journalist and serving in the field since 2012. She keeps extensive experience as investigating journalist and media influencer.
