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Palestine Action will join more than 80 groups banned as terrorist organizations by the British government, including the Islamic State, Hamas, Hezbollah and Al Qaeda, as well as Atomwaffen Division, a white supremacist group.

Jonathan Hall, the British government’s top adviser on terrorism laws, told The New York Times that to his knowledge the ban of Palestine Action would be the “first time that a group has been proscribed on the basis of serious damage to property” in Britain, rather than because of the use of, or support for, serious violence.

The law will make it a criminal offense to be a member of Palestine Action, to raise funds for the group or to “invite support” for it, to arrange meetings, to display its logo or to fail to disclose information about any banned activities to the police.

After this goes through, the following offences will apply: gov.uk/…/proscribed-terrorist-groups-or-organisat…

Proscription offences

Proscription makes it a criminal offence to:

  • belong, or profess to belong, to a proscribed organisation in the UK or overseas (section 11 of the act)
  • invite support for a proscribed organisation (the support invited need not be material support, such as the provision of money or other property, and can also include moral support or approval) (section 12(1))
  • express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation (section 12(1A))
  • arrange, manage or assist in arranging or managing a meeting in the knowledge that the meeting is to support or further the activities of a proscribed organisation, or is to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation (section 12(2)); or to address a meeting if the purpose of the address is to encourage support for, or further the activities of, a proscribed organisation (section 12(3))
  • wear clothing or carry or display articles in public in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that the individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation (section 13)
  • publish an image of an item of clothing or other article, such as a flag or logo, in the same circumstances (section 13(1A))

What are the penalties for a proscription offence?

The penalties for proscription offences under sections 11 and 12 are a maximum of 14 years in prison and/or a fine. The maximum penalty for a section 13 offence is 6 months in prison and/or a fine not exceeding £5,000.