What’s happened: The National Security (Hostile States) Bill has received Royal Assent, officially passing into law.

• This grants the Home Secretary new counter-terrorism style powers to designate and target groups that are, according to a government press release, “working at the behest of, or in the interests of, foreign states in order to carry out acts which threaten the UK’s security and the safety of communities across the country.”
• Designation is equivalent to proscription as stipulated in the Terrorism Act 2000, but also applies to hostile state actors and their proxies.
• The new legislation criminalises assisting a designated body and obtaining material benefits from a designated body. It also includes supporting a designated body (where a person invites support for, or expresses an opinion or belief that is supportive of a designated body, and does so for a prohibited purpose).
• An individual convicted of these offences may be punished with a maximum sentence of fourteen years and a fine.
• The Home Secretary’s criteria for designation a group is if they “reasonably believe a body is, or has been, involved in foreign power threat activity and considers that designating the body is necessary to protect the safety or interests of the UK.”
• Commenting on the new law, the Home Secretary, Shabhana Mahmood said, “Under these new powers, we’re going further to dismantle and deter hostile activity. This act gives the police and intelligence agencies the tools they need to pursue foreign powers and their proxies, and better protect our communities, institutions, and democratic values.”
• Sir Ken McCallum, the Director General of MI5 said, “Building on the important powers in the National Security Act 2023, which are already being heavily used, this legislation introduces new measures which will help us tackle the growing threat from proxy organisations, which are being increasingly used by states attempting to deniably target the UK.”

Context: MI5 acknowledged a 35 per cent increase in 2025 from the previous year, and over 20 potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots were identified.

• The passage of The National Security (Hostile States) Bill follows a 2025 report by Jonathan Hall KC which highlighted the weaknesses in pre-existing legislation of The National Security Act 2023.
• That law had been used to charge, prosecute, and convict agents working for Iran, Russia, and China. However Hall argued it was “less effective at disrupting proxies than foreign intelligence services.” This conclusion led to Hall’s recommendation to introduce “State Threats Proscription-like Power”.
• The Bill was introduced in May’s King’s Speech. This followed a pledge by the Labour Party to take decisive action after waves of allegedly Iranian state-sponsored terrorism against the Jewish community in March and April. These attacks were claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI).
• Although some suspects were arrested shortly after the attacks took place, they were charged for arson and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered rather than through the Terrorism Act 2000 or National Security Act 2023. If found guilty, sentencing would therefore be significantly shorter and less severe, despite allegations of hostile state (specifically Iranian) direction.
• This had the effect of identifying a legal gap for hostile state activity by proxy, as was the case with HAYI. While HAYI had a presence on Telegram, it was widely described as being a “virtual” Iranian proxy group, as much as that it seemingly did not exist off social media, and was being remotely controlled and directed from the Middle East.
• Jewish community and Iranian dissident groups have consistently lobbied the government for IRGC proscription.
• The Conservatives pledged to proscribe the IRGC in 2023, but they ultimately U-turned and instead issued a new wave of sanctions against IRGC commanders.
• While in opposition, Labour had indicated it would be willing to proscribe the IRGC, and its 2024 manifesto made specific reference to taking “the approach used for dealing with non-state terrorism and adapt it to deal with state based domestic security threats.”
• After the recent wave of attacks in the spring, Labour reintroduced this policy with a renewed sense of urgency. While visiting the recently firebombed Kenton United Synagogue, Prime Minister Starmer pledged to table legislation allowing the UK to ban the IRGC in the upcoming parliamentary session.

Looking ahead: While the National Security (Hostile States) Bill never specifically mentioned the IRGC, it is highly likely to be the first group designated by Home Secretary.

• Given recent convictions of Russian and Chinese agents, it is also a realistic possibility that Moscow and Beijing’s security services – such as the SVR, GRU, FSB, and MSS – may also be designated.

What’s happened: Alongside a historic peace framework agreement with Lebanon, Israel has achieved other significant progress in building international alliances.

• At a Pax Silica Summit, Israel signed together with the United States, the United Kingdom, and 22 other nations Joint Statement on AI Opportunity.
• Other signatories include countries from across the world such as Argentina, Sweden, and Japan, as well as Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar from the Middle East.
• The signatories pledged to embrace AI opportunities, promote pro-innovative regulation, strengthen their cooperation and mobilise the private sector to drive the AI revolution.
• New Pax Silica Artificial Intelligence Assistance Project for Panama was announced with an aim to strengthen global AI supply chain security by developing an AI supply chain credentialing and provenance platform that expedites the shipping of semiconductors, AI infrastructure, critical minerals, and related products through the Panama Canal.
• Elsewhere this week, one of the of the top three Israeli defence companies, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, announced a £1.7bn deal to sell its Spyder air defence systems to Romania.
• Rafael won the Romanian Ministry of Defence’s tender for air-defence systems capable of intercepting drones, cruise missiles, guided munitions, airplanes and helicopters.
• The deal was announced during President Isaac Herzog’s state visit to Romania, and includes the supply of launchers, interceptors, radar systems, training programmes and logistical support.
• Another country investing in Israeli air defence technology, could be Greece. According to media reports, Athens is looking to acquire a £2.6bn package for its “Achilles’ Shield” defence umbrella.
• This programme could include Rafael’s Spyder All-in-One and David’s Sling systems, as well as the Barak MX system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), according to Greek sources.
• On the other side of the Balkans, in Slovenia, the returning veteran Prime Minister Janez Janša announced that the Slovenian embassy would be relocated from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem.
• Janša also pledged to reverse the previous Slovenian government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
• The move comes at a critical juncture, amid a growing campaign within EU institutions for the bloc to sanction Israel, a move opposed by Israel’s long-standing ally, Czechia. Czech Foreign Minister Macinka has, according to Bloomberg, told his EU counterparts: “Don’t even try, otherwise we’ll veto it.” According to Czech News Agency, the sanctions are opposed as well by Germany and Hungary.

Context: The Pax Silica is US initiative on AI and supply chain security focusing on critical minerals, energy inputs, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI and technology infrastructure.

• The 2026 Pax Silica Summit also saw ten new nations, such as Germany, Greece and EU as a whole, joining the initiative, which has arrived at 24 signatories so far, including Israel and the United Kingdom.
• Rafael’s success in the Romanian tender for air defence system underscores the reputation of Israeli technology in this field, that has been proven during the years of conflict with Iran and their proxies.
• This has been evidenced by a successful deployment of Israeli air defence systems, including the Iron Dome, in protecting the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar during the War with Iran.
• The above-mentioned Greek contract would be another milestone in Israel’s relations with the Hellenic Republic and another piece in the jigsaw puzzle of the strengthening cooperation between Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and India, as they seek to increase their defence capabilities and to establish the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) to bolster trade routes between Europe and India. This was underscored by a recent series of high-level meetings between Israeli officials and the Chief of the Hellenic Navy, as well as military top brass in India.
• Prime Minister Janša seeks to repair ties between Ljubljana and Jerusalem after four years of centre-left government in Slovenia, which embraced strongly anti-Israel stances including pushing for suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
• Anti-Israel sentiment within EU has been recently fuelled by renewed Gaza flotilla activity. The participation of European citizens has helped keep the issue high on the EU’s political agenda, increasing pressure on governments and EU institutions to adopt a tougher line towards Israel.
• Speaking to Israel Hayom Janša stressed the need for closer cooperation between the EU and Israel: “Instead of distancing themselves from one another, they must increase cooperation. Israel is not Europe’s problem; it is one of its most important allies.”
• Israel has long-standing ties with Central European countries, rooted in shared history and defence, cultural, and economic cooperation. Its relationship with Czechia is especially deep, dating back to 1948, when Czechoslovakia played a crucial role in supplying the newly established State of Israel with weapons, including fighter aircraft, and training IDF pilots during the Israel’s War of Independence.

Looking ahead: A joint Foreign Ministry-IDF delegation to Venezuela is due to assist recovery efforts after powerful earthquakes there killed more than 1,700 people and left thousands homeless.

• Israel is sending its delegation despite not having formal relations with Venezuela for 17 years. The team includes engineering experts from the Home Front Command and Foreign Ministry representatives.
• Additional specialists from the Home Front Command and the National Emergency Management Authority are expected to join later. There are already Israeli volunteers on site helping with rescue efforts.
• The EU Foreign Affairs Council is due to convene on July 13 and may discuss issues related to Israel. However, any anti-Israel resolutions appear unlikely, at least for now.

What’s happened: On Monday, the British Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s February ruling that then Home Secretary’s designation of Palestine Action had been unlawful, meaning that the group’s proscription still stands.

• Responding to the announcement, the Home Secretary said that “The Court has found that Palestine Action has carried out acts of terrorism, celebrated those who have taken part in those acts and promoted the use of violence. It is not an ordinary protest or civil disobedience group, and its actions are not consistent with democratic values and the rule of law.”
• She added that “This decision does not affect lawful protest in support of the Palestinian cause, which remains a fundamental democratic right. There is a difference between supporting Palestine and supporting a proscribed terrorist group.”
• In a summary of the case, the Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, said that it was “not sustainable” for Palestine Action to be portrayed as a non-violent organisation or a normal protest group given its continued intent to use violence. “It is not – as claimed – a direct action civil disobedience protest group like the suffragettes, operating transparently in the open,” she said, adding that the group “is a covert organisation which operates with secret cells to avoid the detection and prosecution of those using violence to destroy property and cause injury.”
• The court concluded that the original judgement had been lawful, striking a fair balance between protecting national security and the right to protest.

Context: The government’s intent to proscribe Palestine Action was announced in June 2025 by the then Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. That decision was taken days after the group raided and vandalised two Airbus A330 MRTT planes at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Palestine Action subsequently claimed that this was an attempt to interrupt “Britain’s direct participation in the commission of genocide and war crimes across the Middle East”.

• The planes were sprayed with red paint using repurposed fire extinguishers, and no other damage was caused. Two Palestine Action members infiltrated the airfield using scooters, and do not appear to have been challenged by base security. The damage caused was estimated by the authorities at £7 million. 
• Addressing the Commons on 23rd June, Cooper stated that, since its founding in 2020, the group had “orchestrated a nationwide campaign of direct criminal action against businesses and institutions.” Increasing the frequency of its operations since 2024, Cooper argued that its “methods have become more aggressive, with its members demonstrating a willingness to use violence”. Apart from defence industry and infrastructure, other targets have included financial firms, charities, universities and Government buildings.
• Cooper also emphasised that these activities had since reached the “threshold set out in the statutory tests established under the Terrorism Act 2000”, and that the group had “provided practical advice to assist its members with conducting attacks that have resulted in serious damage to property.”
• In November 2024, Palestine Action claimed responsibility for an attack against the building which housed BICOM’s offices, as well as other Jewish community charities and Jewish-owned businesses. The accompanying Palestine Action specifically identified BICOM as having been the attack’s target.
• In October 2025, Palestine Action’s founder, Huda Ammori, was granted permission to judicially appeal against the Home Secretary’s decision. She was initially successful in doing so, with the High Court ruling that proscription was both “unlawful” and disproportionate in how it interfered with the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, both of which are protected under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights in February 2026.
• Immediately after the High Court’s ruling, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced her intent to contest it in the Court of Appeal. Her appeal began in April of this year, and concluded on Monday with a finding in her favour.
• As a proscribed group, belonging to or supporting Palestine Action is punishable by sentences of up to 14 years. Since its initial banning, its supporters have deliberately risked arrest by holding signs in public reading “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
• Over 3000 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of Terrorism Act breaches in support of Palestine Action since July 2025, mostly at large demonstrations. Of these, just over 700 have been charged.
• 117 individuals were arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation, namely Palestine Action at protests outside of the Court of Appeal. Of these, it is a realistic possibility that a significant proportion will be charged and face criminal proceedings for their alleged support of Palestine Action.
• Last week, Four Palestine Action activists were jailed after causing £1.2m of damage and inflicting grievous bodily harm on a police sergeant.

Looking ahead: In an interview with the Guardian, Huda Ammori has confirmed her intent to have the Court of Appeal’s decision overturned and that the battle to do so will be won in the courts “or on the streets.”

• No timeframe for has been given for when this legal action may be initiated, but Ammori has specifically cited a willingness to escalate to the UK Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights if necessary.
• It is highly likely that the Home Office will continue to challenge any further legal attempts to override Palestine Action’s proscription.
• Even in the event that Monday’s decision is appealed to the Supreme Court or European Court of Human Rights, it is highly unlikely that any ongoing prosecutions against alleged Palestine Action members and supporters will be discontinued.

What’s happened: President Herzog said he was “horrified by yet another violent attack on Jews in broad daylight on the streets of London.”

• He added, “No Jew anywhere in the world should be a target because of their faith. In one of the great capital cities of the West, it has become dangerous to openly walk the streets as a Jew. This is an unacceptable situation. The British government and authorities must take urgent and immediate action before the next antisemitic attack occurs.”
• The Prime Minsters Office released a statement noting, “Weakness gaslights one antisemitic attack after another in London. Words are not enough to confront this scourge. We demand and expect action by the British Government to protect the Jews of England and bring antisemites to justice.”
• Israeli media reported that two Israeli tourists had saved at least ten other people from the terrorist. An eye witness told Kan News, “They ran after the stabber and warned everyone. There was a woman with a baby carriage with a little girl in it, whom they ushered away from the site. He was literally chasing her, so she was really, really lucky. They simply ran after him and began to yell to people to simply go, to go, to go, run away from here.”
• Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism connected the attack to the new Iranian terrorist group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI)  after they claimed responsibility for this latest attack in London. They had previously been behind several recent arson attacks targeting Jewish sites. 
• Minister Chikli said, “The handwriting is on the wall, written in blood. We have warned in recent weeks that this is an emerging organisation with characteristics of decentralised terrorism, and today we see the realisation of this threat in the heart of London. The British government must wake up, do much more, and ensure the security of the Jewish communities.
• Israeli officials monitoring the new group say they have identified, “coordinated pattern of operation that combines online propaganda, the mobilisation of local operatives, and distribution infrastructures linked to pro-Iranian militant networks.”
• The ministry calls on European countries to “increase intelligence cooperation and enforcement against terrorist infrastructures operating in the digital and physical spheres, to prepare for the possibility of further attempted attacks against Jewish communities, and to act to thwart any terrorist activity against Jewish communities.
• According to the ministry, “Between 27 April 2025, and 27 April 2026, approximately 6.37 million antisemitic posts related to the UK were published on X . Simultaneously, there was an increase in violent incidents against Jews, including the assault of an Orthodox Jewish man in Slough, arsons and attempted arsons of Jewish institutions in London, the torching of “Hatzola” ambulances in Golders Green, additional physical assaults against Jews in public spaces, and a fatal attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur.”