Books by Irish author Sally Rooney will no longer be sold in the United Kingdom after the author pledged the royalties from her work to Palestine Action, a group the British government has designated a terrorist organization. Her publisher, Faber, announced the decision to cease supplying her works in all formats within the U.K. because current legislation prevents the firm from transferring British earnings to the author under these circumstances. Rooney stated she was prepared to accept the consequences of her actions.
The withdrawal of Rooney’s titles follows her announcement last year that she would donate proceeds from her books to Palestine Action. The group describes itself as using "disruptive tactics" to target companies that support the Israeli military. In July 2025, the British government banned the organization under the Terrorism Act 2000, citing "serious damage to property" and an increase in aggressive methods. It was the first time the U.K. had applied a terrorist designation to a group that does not call for violence against people.
Palestine Action has claimed responsibility for several incidents, including breaking into a British air force base to spray-paint aircraft and vandalizing a golf course in Scotland. The British government stated the group's activities met the threshold for terrorism, while critics, including U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Türk and Amnesty International UK, argued the designation was disproportionate and limited freedom of expression. Under U.K. law, providing financial assistance to a proscribed group can result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
The move establishes a precedent for how anti-terrorism financing laws can interrupt the commercial distribution of creative works. Because Faber stated it cannot legally "pass on" earnings to an author who has pledged them to a banned group, other artists or public figures who declare similar financial intentions could face similar restrictions on their income and the availability of their products. Since the ban on Palestine Action, several thousand people in the U.K. have reportedly been arrested for demonstrating support for the group, primarily through carrying placards or wearing specific clothing.
The legal status of these restrictions remains subject to change through the British judicial system. While the U.K. High Court ruled against the ban in February 2026, that decision was later overturned by a court of appeal. The case is scheduled to be heard by Britain’s highest court next month. Additionally, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Palestine Action in August 2026, designating them as terrorists and potentially broadening the financial implications for the group and its supporters internationally.