Two prominent grassroots pro-Palestinian organisations in the UK have had their bank accounts frozen, prompting growing alarm over what campaigners describe as a widening effort to silence criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza.
Greater Manchester Friends for Palestine (GMFP) and the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) say they were cut off from their funds by Virgin Money and Unity Trust bank, respectively, without warning or clear explanation. A third group—a local PSC branch in England—is also believed to have been affected, although this remains unconfirmed.
The moves follow a string of controversial actions by UK authorities in recent weeks, including the proscription of direct-action network Palestine Action on 5 July, the arrests of more than 100 of its supporters, and reports of police threatening a peaceful protester with arrest simply for displaying a Palestinian flag and a “Free Gaza” placard.
The latest development adds to fears of a coordinated clampdown on pro-Palestinian activism and expressions of solidarity, including those involved in legal, peaceful protest.
“A Worrying Sign”
Owen Cooper, co-treasurer of GMFP, described the group’s activities as entirely peaceful and community-based, ranging from marches to bicycle rides. He said Virgin Money had provided no reason for freezing the group’s account, which has severely hampered its ability to send humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank.
“If it’s purely the fact that we have ‘Palestine’ in the bank account name, I think it’s a very worrying sign,” said Cooper. “We’re being treated as if we’re dangerous, when we’re just ordinary, decent people trying to support those suffering under siege. They’re actually preventing food and medical supplies from getting to Gaza.”
GMFP has not been linked to any criminal activity and Cooper stressed that police have not raised concerns about the group’s conduct.
“Absolutely Disgraceful”
Scottish PSC, which has operated legally for over two decades, was informed by Unity Trust bank that its account was frozen due to a now-deleted donation link on its website to Palestine Action, a group now outlawed under terrorism legislation. But Mick Napier, a member of the group’s finance committee, said the donation link was removed immediately after Palestine Action was banned—and yet the bank has not reinstated access to their funds.
“It’s shocking,” said Napier. “We’ve been working for 25 years. We acted responsibly when the law changed, and yet we are being punished. This is financial censorship, and it’s making it incredibly difficult for us to continue our work.”
Napier added that the group had to resort to “inconvenient and burdensome” workarounds to cover basic operating costs.
Financial Institutions Under Fire
The freezing of accounts has revived longstanding concerns about the role of UK banks in suppressing Palestinian civil society efforts—not just through account closures, but through complicity in Israel’s military and occupation infrastructure.
Campaigners from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement have long targeted British banks they accuse of profiting from the occupation of Palestine. The most prominent example is HSBC, which came under intense public pressure for holding shares in Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer linked to drone strikes in Gaza. After a sustained campaign of protests, divestment actions, and public pressure—including coordinated account closures—HSBC divested from Elbit in 2018, marking a major BDS victory in the UK.
Barclays, another major financial institution, continues to face calls for divestment due to its investments in arms firms like Raytheon, Boeing, and BAE Systems, all of which supply weaponry used by the Israeli military. Regular protests outside Barclays branches across the UK have formed part of national days of action coordinated by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), War on Want, and Friends of Al-Aqsa.
Grassroots organisers have also urged local councils, churches, and trade unions to adopt ethical banking practices and move their money away from banks tied to Israeli military aggression.
“Banks have become a site of resistance,” said one BDS UK spokesperson. “They are part of the infrastructure that enables occupation and war crimes. When people close their accounts, they’re not just making a financial decision—they’re taking a stand.”
Banks Remain Tight-Lipped
When asked to explain the decisions, both Virgin Money and Unity Trust declined to comment on individual accounts. Virgin Money cited legal obligations, stating that there were “a variety of reasons” for suspending or closing accounts, including regulatory compliance. Unity Trust said it was a “politically neutral organisation” with a diverse customer base and a commitment to operating with integrity.
The lack of transparency has done little to allay fears among civil liberties advocates.
“These account closures fit into a much broader pattern,” said a human rights lawyer familiar with protest legislation. “We’re seeing the financial sector being used to penalise activism by indirect means—without due process, without criminal allegations, and without oversight.”
Civil Liberties Under Pressure
The freezing of bank accounts is just the latest in a series of escalating measures taken against UK-based critics of Israeli policy. The proscription of Palestine Action earlier this month under anti-terror legislation has been condemned by legal experts and civil rights organisations as a dangerous precedent, potentially criminalising a wide swathe of peaceful activism.
More than 100 people have been arrested in connection with Palestine Action in recent weeks. Others have been detained or cautioned simply for holding Palestine flags or displaying messages of solidarity.
Amid this atmosphere, campaigners say their ability to operate, organise, and advocate for Palestinians is being severely constrained.
“Financial censorship is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Napier. “When your voice, your resources, and your presence in public spaces are all under threat, democracy itself is under threat.”
Growing Resolve
Despite the mounting pressure, pro-Palestinian groups say they will not be deterred. On the contrary, they view the crackdown as evidence of their effectiveness—and a reason to redouble their efforts.
“We’re not going away,” said GMFP’s Owen Cooper. “We’ve done nothing wrong. We’re raising our voices for people who are being bombed, starved, and ignored. If that’s now considered a threat, then the problem is not with us—it’s with the system that’s trying to shut us down.”
As British banks face renewed scrutiny, and the UK government continues to tighten its grip on protest and political expression, the fight over Palestine is increasingly being waged not just in the streets—but in the financial system, the legal system, and the very principles of a democratic society.
