The United Kingdom’s High Court has ruled that the government’s decision to classify the campaign group Palestine Action as a “terror group” was unlawful and disproportionate, delivering a major legal victory for the organisation and its supporters.
In response to the landmark ruling, Huda Ammori, cofounder of Palestine Action, hailed the decision as “a monumental victory both for our fundamental freedoms here in Britain and in the struggle for freedom for the Palestinian people.” She described the ban as “a Trumpian abuse of power” and one of the most extreme attacks on free speech in recent British history.
The ban, announced last June, had placed Palestine Action on par with terrorist organisations such as al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS), criminalising membership and public support. The government justified the proscription after the group claimed responsibility for a break-in at a Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire, where activists sprayed military planes with red paint, according to Al Jazeera.
Despite the ruling, the UK government announced its intention to appeal. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she “disagrees with the notion that banning this terrorist organisation is disproportionate” and intends to challenge the court’s decision in the Court of Appeal. Pending the appeal, London’s Metropolitan Police said arrests for showing support would be unlikely unless actions crossed into violence, property damage, or other criminal offences.
Supporters of Palestine Action celebrated outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, with some calling the ruling an “absolute triumph” for civil disobedience and pro-Palestinian activism. Thousands of protesters previously arrested, including elderly and disabled individuals facing up to 14 years in prison, now have renewed hope for justice.
The court highlighted that while Palestine Action engaged in illegal acts, the blanket designation as a terrorist organisation infringed on rights to freedom of speech and assembly. Legal observers noted that the ruling also signals a setback for the UK Labour government, which has faced criticism for heavy-handed enforcement of anti-terrorism laws.
Since 2020, Palestine Action has carried out 385 direct actions targeting UK subsidiaries of Israeli arms companies, including Elbit Systems, which has supplied drones used in Gaza. Activists argue their actions aim to challenge military profiteering and draw attention to the situation in Palestine, not to commit acts of terrorism.
The ruling is expected to influence ongoing debates over civil liberties, the proportionality of anti-terrorism measures, and the limits of lawful protest in the UK.
