Trump Designates Palestine Action as Global Terrorist Organization

President Donald Trump designated the British-based group Palestine Action as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions that freeze the organization's assets, block its property within the United States, and prohibit U.S. citizens from conducting business with the group. Additionally, supporters of the organization may now be barred for life from entering the United States.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the administration will use economic tools to cut the financial lifelines of far-left extremists. This action aligns with a broader effort by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to refocus counterterrorism efforts on far-left terror. Palestine Action has historically targeted institutions and companies it accuses of supporting Israel, specifically the defense manufacturer Elbit Systems.

The U.S. move follows a July 2025 decision by the Government of the United Kingdom to proscribe the group as a terrorist organization after incidents including a break-in at RAF Brize Norton. While the UK Court of Appeal upheld the legality of that ban in June, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has granted co-founder Huda Ammori permission to challenge the decision. Ammori condemned the U.S. designation as beyond hypocritical, asserting that the group's activities are intended to disrupt the Israeli war machine.