UK Terrorism Act Ban Transforms Documentary About Palestine Action Into Symbol of State Overreach
On July 5, the UK Home Office designated Palestine Action as a terrorist group, following a decisive House of Commons vote of 385–26 on July 2. In response, the documentary 'To Kill A War Machine,' directed by Hannan Majid and Richard York, was released online ahead of schedule. This film, narrated by Palestine Action cofounders Huda Ammori and Richard Barnard, depicts activists targeting Israeli arms manufacturers. The documentary's release serves as a bold statement amid potential repercussions under the Terrorism Act. This situation marks a departure from previous controversies, involving the retroactive criminalization of association. Additionally, the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land' faces distribution hurdles in the West, while the BBC has withdrawn 'Gaza: Doctors Under Attack' (2025).
Key facts
- The UK Home Office proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organization effective July 5, 2024.
- The House of Commons voted 385–26 on July 2, 2024 to ban Palestine Action.
- Documentary 'To Kill A War Machine' was released online early due to the ban.
- Directors Hannan Majid and Richard York are from Rainbow Collective.
- The film features narration by Palestine Action cofounders Huda Ammori and Richard Barnard.
- Majid and York previously made 'Tears in the Fabric' (2014) about Bangladeshi garment workers.
- The ban triggered a global spike in downloads of the documentary.
- The BBC withdrew 'Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone' in February 2025 and pulled 'Gaza: Doctors Under Attack' (2025).
Entities
Artists
- Hannan Majid
- Richard York
- Huda Ammori
- Richard Barnard
- Mohammad Bakri
- Ariella Aïsha Azoulay
- Finn Blythe
Institutions
- UK Home Office
- House of Commons
- Palestine Action
- Rainbow Collective
- BBC
- Channel 4
- The Guardian
Locations
- UK
- London
- Israel
- Bangladesh
- West Bank
- Susya