UK High Court Rules Ban on Palestine Action Unlawful Amidst Surge in Terrorism Arrests
In a landmark ruling, the UK High Court has deemed the proscription of activist group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation to be unlawful
. The decision comes amidst a shocking increase in terrorism-related arrests following the group's ban in July 2025.
Context and Background
The UK government's move to proscribe Palestine Action in July 2025 followed an incident where group members broke into the RAF's Brize Norton base and damaged two aircraft in protest against British military support for Israel's war in Gaza. The designation placed the group alongside Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, making membership or support punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Despite the controversial ban, the activist group embarked on a civil disobedience campaign, which led to more than 1,800 arrests in connection with alleged terrorism-related activities in 2025 to September, marking a year-on-year increase of 660 percent. Over 1,600 of these arrests were linked to Palestine Action's activities.
High Court Ruling
However, three senior high court judges have now ruled the ban disproportionate
and in breach of rights to freedom of expression and assembly, dealing a significant blow to the UK's counterterrorism policy. The judges noted that the level, scale
of Palestine Action's activities, including raids on military and industrial sites, did not warrant a 'terror' label.
In a case brought by Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori, the court found in favour of the group's claim on two grounds whilst dismissing it on two others. The ruling found that the decision to proscribe the group was discriminatory, but the ban remains in force until a further order by the court.
Reactions and Implications
The ruling has been met with widespread accolades, with activists welcoming the court's decision. Huda Ammori lauded the verdict as a victory for Palestine
and stated that the UK ban had backfired
.
However, the UK government has announced that it will appeal the verdict. The ban remains in place pending government's expected appeal and it could be months before the issue is resolved.
The Metropolitan Police has indicated that officers are unlikely to arrest people simply for showing support for Palestine Action until the legal situation is clarified.
Conclusion
Despite the High Court ruling, the immediate future of Palestine Action remains uncertain with the government's decision to appeal the verdict. The group continues to face legal challenges and the implications of the ruling on the UK's counterterrorism strategy are yet to be fully realized.