Court allows UK government to appeal ruling that Palestine Action ban was unlawful

Times of Israel · Feb 25, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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LONDON — The British government was on Wednesday given permission to appeal against a ruling that its ban on pro-Palestinian campaign group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was unlawful. The UK government proscribed Palestine Action after activists in June 2025 broke into a Royal Air Force base and vandalized two planes, causing an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage, in protest of Britain’s military support for Israel amid the war in Gaza, an action described by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “disgraceful.” The move grouped the organization with the likes of al-Qaeda and Hamas, making membership in or support for Palestine Action a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Since then, more than 2,700 people have been arrested at protests for holding signs saying “I support Palestine Action.” More than 250 have been charged under the Terrorism Act. Lawyers representing Huda Ammori, who co-founded Palestine Action in 2020, argued at a hearing last year that the move was an authoritarian restriction on the right to protest. London’s High Court ruled this month that the ban was unlawful, ruling that it was a disproportionate interference with free speech rights. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories By signing up, you agree to the terms Judges Victoria Sharp, Jonathan Swift and Karen Steyn said that “the nature and scale of Palestine Action’s activities” did not meet the “level, scale and persistence” that would justify proscription, and said they were “satisfied that the decision to proscribe Palestine Action was disproportionate.” Supporters of anti-Israel group Palestine Action stage a protest outside the Royal Court of Justice in London, Britain, February 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) The ruling earlier this month threw into question the prosecution of hundreds of people who had been charged for holding signs in support of the group, and prompted London’s Metropolitan Police to say it would not arrest people expressing support for Palestine Action, but would continue to gather evidence of offenses “to provide opportunities for enforcement at a later date.” The same court on Wednesday granted Britain’s interior ministry permission to challenge its ruling, saying the ban would remain in place pending the appeal. The Home Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. After the initial ruling earlier this month, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “disappointed by the court’s decision,” and pledged to appeal the decision. In a statement after the verdict, Mahmood said: “The Court acknowledged that Palestine Action has carried out acts of terrorism, celebrated those who have taken part in those acts and promoted the use of violence.” UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood leaves 10 Downing Street after a cabinet meeting in London, Britain, February 10, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung) “The proscription of Palestine Action followed a rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process, endorsed by parliament,” she said, pledging on X: “I will fight this judgment in the Court of Appeal.” In a joint statement, the UK’s Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed Mahmood’s response to the ruling, which they said “deeply concerned” them. “The safety of the British public, including Jews, must remain a priority,” the groups said. Palestine Action has carried out acts of “direct action” at military and industrial sites in the UK since the group’s formation in 2020, including breaking into facilities owned by Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems UK. Related: Palestine Action activists to face retrial over UK Elbit factory raid following backlash Officials say Palestine Action’s activities have caused millions of pounds in damage that affects national security.