What is Palestine Action? Sally Rooney Books Pulled Over Ties

After the ban, Rooney pledged to donate money from her book sales to the group. In an August 2025 op-ed in the Irish Times, Rooney wrote, “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.”

“To ensure that the British public is made aware of my position, I would happily publish this statement in a U.K. newspaper—but that would now be illegal,” the author added. “The present U.K. Government has willingly stripped its own citizens of basic rights and freedoms, including the right to express and read dissenting opinions, in order to protect its relationship with Israel.”

Providing financial support to organizations designated under the U.K.’s Terrorism Act is a criminal offense. In a statement circulated by her agent, Rooney said “the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the U.K. could now constitute a serious criminal offence. After a process of consultation and deliberation, and with my full agreement, my publisher Faber has therefore determined that it can no longer supply my work within the U.K.”