“Workers Party of Ireland condemns the UK government’s designation of Palestine Action as a “terrorist” organisation”

The Workers Party condemns the UK government’s designation of Palestine Action as a “terrorist” organisation. This gross abuse of civil liberties took place in the context of activists daubing paint on a few RAF planes in protest against the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. This unwarranted and repressive action is an undisguised threat against all those who seek justice in Gaza, the West Bank and the wider Middle East. It undermines civil liberties and democratic freedoms, and it designed to create a chilling effect on advocacy for Palestinian rights and on other campaigns for human rights and against war.

If the British government was serious about “terrorism” then it would have taken active steps to prevent the murderous actions and war crimes of the Israeli regime against Palestinian civilians involving the indiscriminate and mass killing of Palestinians, including women and children, from infants to the elderly, the destruction of their homes, their expulsion and displacement, the detention and torture of prisoners,  the blockade on food, water and medical assistance, the destruction of essential medical and health care facilities, causing serious mental and bodily harm, and deliberately inflicting conditions meant to "bring about their physical destruction as a group” which amounts to genocide.

This action by a supine and pro-Zionist Labour government sets a precedence for future government bans on other protest movements. The endless stream of war crimes, atrocities, and human rights violations committed by Israel with the unwavering political, military, financial and logistical support of the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other imperialist powers has vividly reminded the world of the true nature of imperialism and the barbarism it engenders.

The Workers Party reasserts its support for the Palestinian people and their just struggle for their legitimate and inalienable rights to self-determination and an independent sovereign state of Palestine and the right of citizens to protest in support of that just cause.

Gerry Grainger

International Secretary

Workers Party of Ireland