The decision follows a review of security at military bases across the country in the wake of the break-in, which took place in the early hours of Friday.
The UK government is preparing to outlaw the protest group Palestine Action after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and vandalised military aircraft in a dramatic act of protest against British involvement in the Israel-Gaza conflict, the BBC reported.
The move, expected to be announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in Parliament next week, would classify the group as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.
If approved, membership of Palestine Action would become a criminal offence, along with activities such as organising meetings, fundraising, or displaying its symbols. The decision follows a review of security at military bases across the country in the wake of the break-in, which took place in the early hours of Friday.
Video footage shared online by the group shows two individuals entering the Oxfordshire airbase under cover of darkness. One is seen approaching an RAF Airbus Voyager jet and spraying red paint into its engine using a scooter-mounted platform. Two aircraft were targeted during the operation, which was described by campaigners as an act of “direct action” against what they called the UK’s complicity in Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
In a statement, a Palestine Action spokesperson said: “When our government fails to uphold their moral and legal obligations, it is the responsibility of ordinary citizens to take direct action.” The group later posted on social media: “If they want to ban us, they ban us all.”
The Home Office has not yet issued a public statement, but BBC sources confirmed that a written notice for proscription is being drafted and could be laid before Parliament as early as Monday. To take effect, the measure must be debated and passed by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Currently, 81 organisations are listed as proscribed terrorist groups in the UK, including al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Islamic State.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman welcomed the move, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “This is absolutely the correct decision. We must have zero tolerance for terrorism.”
However, the decision has already drawn criticism from civil liberties groups. Amnesty International UK expressed alarm, stating: “Terrorism powers should never have been used to aggravate criminal charges against Palestine Action activists and they certainly shouldn’t be used to ban them.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the Brize Norton incident as “disgraceful”, and support for proscription has been echoed by several senior MPs. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Conservative MP Robert Jenrick have both publicly demanded the group be banned.
A joint investigation into the break-in is now underway, involving South East Counter Terrorism Police, Thames Valley Police, and the Ministry of Defence. Police confirmed that specialist officers are “working to establish the exact circumstances” surrounding the incident.
Palestine Action, founded in 2020, has gained notoriety for a series of high-profile protests and break-ins targeting arms manufacturers such as Elbit Systems. The group claims Britain is complicit in Israeli military actions through arms sales and logistical support, despite political condemnation of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
