MPs have voted to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation after the group targeted an RAF base and an Israeli defence company’s UK headquarters.
While a large majority (385) MPs voted to proscribe the group, 26 voted against the move.
The amendment to the Terrorism Act 2000 to include Palestine Action and two other groups, Maniacs Murder Cult and Russia Imperial Movement, will go to the House of Lords on Thursday and become law at midnight on 9 July if it passes through successfully.
It means it will become a criminal offence – punishable by up to 14 years in prison – to be a member of the three groups or to support them, if any legal challenges by the groups prove to be unsuccessful.
Several Labour MPs made impassioned speeches about why they think Palestine Action should not be a terrorist organisation, and raised concerns it was grouped in with the other two.
They argued that proscribing the group “threatens basic freedoms and sets a dangerous precedent for political dissent” as they see them as a campaign group.
Several Labour MPs said they agreed the group had caused criminal damage but did not think they should be deemed terrorists.
Palestine Action are seeking a legal challenge against the government’s bid to proscribe it, with a hearing expected on Friday to decide whether its proscription can be temporarily blocked, pending further proceedings to decide whether a legal challenge can be brought.
Hours before the debate, two members of Palestine Action were charged with criminal damage after blocking the entrance to defence firm Elbit System’s Bristol facility on Tuesday.
The group allege Elbit Systems UK is involved in the manufacture and supply of weapons to the Israeli military – which the company strongly denies.
Members of Palestine Action are also accused of entering RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and vandalising two aircraft with red paint.
The group said two of its activists “broke into the largest air force base in Britain and used electric scooters to swiftly manoeuvre towards the planes” before spraying red paint into the turbine engines of two Airbus Voyagers, with further damage made using crowbars.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the latest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.