Hundreds of academics and lawyers urge Burnham to lift Palestine Action ban
Hundreds of academics and lawyers urge Burnham to lift Palestine Action ban Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 08/26/2026 - 13:51 Letter also urges British prime minister to end UK's military cooperation with Israel Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham speaks during the Coalition of the Willing meeting, in Kyiv on 24 August 2026 (AFP) Off More than 250 academics and lawyers have written to British…
More than 250 academics and lawyers have penned a letter to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, urging him to lift the ban on the direct action group Palestine Action and end military cooperation with Israel. The letter, signed by high-profile figures such as barrister Michael Mansfield and Oxford historian Avi Shlaim, criticizes the UK's continued support for Israel despite its war crimes.
The letter demands that Burnham lift the ban on Palestine Action, stop military cooperation with Israel, and support South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The Labour government proscribed Palestine Action in July 2025, making it a criminal offence to express support for the group, which has led to thousands of arrests.
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Also reported by 4 other outlets
- US sanctions Palestine Action and other 'far-left groups' over alleged support for terrorism thenationalnews.com
- Hundreds of academics and lawyers urge Burnham to lift Palestine Action ban middleeasteye.net
- US imposes sanctions on Palestine Action group al-monitor.com
- US designates UK-based Palestine Action as terrorist group punchng.com
