Don't give money to Palestine Action, says No10 after Sally Rooney row
On Monday, No 10 emphasised that any support for a proscribed organisation was a criminal offence amid a row involving the Normal People author.
Palestine Action was banned by the Government in July and membership and support of the group, including funding, can carry sentences of up to 14 years in prison.
Last weekend, Ms Rooney vowed to use proceeds from BBC adaptations of her books 'as well as my public platform generally to go on supporting Palestine Action '.
She made the comments in an interview with the Irish Times and said it would be illegal for her to publish them in a British newspaper.
Asked whether Sir Keir Starmer had a view on Ms Rooney's remarks, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'I'm not going to get drawn on individuals.
'But you know our position on this, which is very clear. It's as the Met Police has set out as well, which is that protest and free speech are an important part of our democracy and those freedoms will always be protected.
'But there is a difference between showing support for a proscribed organisation, which is illegal under the law, and peaceful protest in the eyes of the courts... If that activity breaks the law, then obviously the police will take action under the law.'
Pressed on whether people should be free to donate to Palestine Action, the spokesman replied: 'Support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act, so obviously support for a proscribed organisation is an offence. It will be up to the police to take action.
'I can't get into any individual cases or specifics or hypotheticals, but as the Home Secretary set out extensively over the weekend, Palestine Action was proscribed under the law.'
When asked what Sir Keir would say to people considering giving money, his official spokesman said: 'Well, that support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act and the police will, as they have set out, obviously implement the law, within the law, as you would expect.'
Challenged once more on what his message would be to anyone considering making a donation, he replied: 'Nobody should support a proscribed terror organisation.'
The designation of Palestine Action as a terror group in July, alongside groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda, came hours after two vandals had broken into RAF Brize Norton and sprayed red paint into the engines of two Airbus Voyager aircraft.
More than 700 people have since been arrested for supporting the group. The decision has prompted a backlash from pro-Palestinian campaigners and Left-wing Labour MPs.
In her interview with the Irish Times, Ms Rooney said she felt compelled to publicly express her support after more than 500 arrests were made in a single day on Aug 9.
'If this makes me a 'supporter of terror' under UK law, so be it,' she wrote. 'My books, at least for now, are still published in Britain, and are widely available in bookshops and even supermarkets.
'In recent years, the UK's state broadcaster has also televised two fine adaptations of my novels, and therefore regularly pays me residual fees.
'I want to be clear that I intend to use these proceeds of my work, as well as my public platform generally, to go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide in whatever way I can.
'If the British state considers this 'terrorism', then perhaps it should investigate the shady organisations that continue to promote my work and fund my activities, such as WH Smith and the BBC.'
On Monday, the ambassador of the state of Palestine in Ireland praised Ms Rooney for her pledge.
Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid said: 'Sally Rooney is using her voice to call out international law and human rights violations in Palestine.
'I hope these calls result in practical actions that will stop the horrors we're witnessing carried out by Israel in Palestine; to stop the genocide and forced displacement and end the Israeli occupation.'
The war between Israel and Hamas has been going on for almost two years since the Oct 7 terror attacks in 2023, in which around 1,200 Israelis were killed by Hamas.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened considerably in recent months, leading to increased political pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to toughen his stance on Israel.
Last month, Sir Keir announced that the UK would recognise Palestine as a state unless Israel committed to a lasting ceasefire, granted entry to hundreds of aid trucks every day and signed up to a lasting two-state solution.
But his demands were dismissed by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, while the United States claimed that recognition would do nothing more than 'reward' Hamas.
WH Smith has been contacted for comment. A BBC spokesman said: 'Matters relating to proscribed organisations are for the relevant authorities.'
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