By Archie Earle, UnHerd
Palestine Action accounted for 92% of terrorism last year, according to newly released Government statistics.
The Home Office found that there were 3,034 arrests for terrorism-related activity in the year to 31 December 2025, compared to 248 the previous year, marking a 1,114% increase. This rise was driven primarily by the proscription of Palestine Action, which led to 2,779 of the 3,034 arrests. Excluding Palestine Action-related arrests, there were 255 terrorism arrests.
Palestine Action was proscribed in July 2025 after a series of high-profile protests, including causing damage at an Elbit Systems factory site, spray-painting a council hall and breaking into RAF Brize Norton.
The Government deemed these actions, among others conducted by the group, to be “serious and harmful”, arguing that they met the threshold for proscription under the Terrorism Act 2000. MPs then voted in favour of legislation to proscribe the group, passing in the Commons by 385 votes to 26. The vote had cross-party support among Conservatives and Labour, but was opposed by Left-wing politicians including Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott.
Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper initiated the proscription, citing “unacceptable criminal damage” and the need to protect the defence industry. This decision sparked immediate backlash, with the Times calling it a “misuse of the law” while the Guardian warned that it risked creating a dangerously vague interpretation of terrorism legislation. At some of the protests against the proscription, hundreds of attendees have been arrested.