Sally Rooney books withdrawn from sale in UK over Palestine Action support

Irish author Sally Rooney has withdrawn her books from U.K. bookstores due to her public backing of Palestine Action, a group designated as a terrorist organization in Britain. Rooney, known for her bestselling novels "Normal People" and "Conversations with Friends," has agreed to halt the supply of her works to British retailers, according to a Faber Publishers statement.

The publisher cited current legislation in the UK, which prevents them from passing on earnings from Rooney's work, making the deal "unconscionable." Rooney had previously expressed her intention to use proceeds from her books and her public platform to support Palestine Action and fight against "genocide in whatever way I can."

Founded in 2020, Palestine Action has targeted arms manufacturers and other companies accused of supplying weapons to Israel, describing itself as a movement committed to ending global complicity with Israel's "genocidal apartheid regime." The group was designated as a terrorist organization by the British government in July 2025 following a series of attacks, including a break-in at RAF Brize Norton that caused around $9.4 million in damage.

The ban has sparked protests and thousands of arrests across the U.K., with the average age of those arrested on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action being 59, compared to 28 for other terrorism-related arrests. The legality of the ban is currently under challenge at the Supreme Court. Rooney's situation highlights the tension between her personal beliefs and the legal implications of supporting a designated terrorist organization in Britain.