Irish novelist Sally Rooney and her publisher, Faber, have ceased supplying her books to the UK market due to legal risks associated with her support for the group Palestine Action.

Irish author Sally Rooney has stopped the sale of her books in the United Kingdom following the British government's decision to designate the protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. Rooney and her publisher, Faber, reached the decision after determining that UK anti-terrorism laws prevented the transfer of royalties to the author. The move follows Rooney's public commitment to continue supporting the group, which the UK government proscribed in July 2025.

Legal Constraints and Publisher Decision

Faber stated that current UK legislation creates an unconscionable situation where the publisher cannot legally pass earnings from book sales to Rooney. Because Rooney has publicly expressed her intention to use proceeds from her work to support Palestine Action, both the author and her publisher faced potential prosecution under British anti-terrorism laws. Consequently, Faber and Rooney agreed to halt the supply of her works in the UK in all formats. Rooney, who resides in Ireland where Palestine Action is not a prohibited group, stated that she was prepared to accept the consequences of her position. She noted that fulfilling her publishing contracts in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offense under the country's laws.

Background on Palestine Action

Palestine Action is a direct-action group founded in 2020 that targets companies it accuses of supplying weapons to Israel. The British government officially designated the group as a terrorist organization in July 2025, citing a history of criminal damage and attacks on defense infrastructure. This designation followed incidents such as a reported break-in at RAF Brize Norton and damage to a factory owned by Teledyne Technologies. Since the ban was implemented in July 2025, more than 3,700 people have reportedly been arrested in the UK for alleged support of the organization. While the group faces these restrictions in Britain, it remains legal in the Republic of Ireland.