UK Court Of Appeal Upholds Terrorist Ban On Palestine Action Group
Five UK Court of Appeal judges upheld the government's June 15, 2026 proscription of Palestine Action, keeping membership or support a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison.[1]
The ruling reverses a High Court decision that had found in February 2026 that the July 2025 ban was unlawful for failing to weigh protest rights.[1] Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr said Palestine Action promotes unlawful violence amounting to terrorism and is not comparable to non-violent protest movements.[1] Co-founder Huda Ammori said the group will seek permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court.[1]
Palestine Action was founded in 2020 as a direct-action network targeting UK firms that supply military equipment to Israel. Its campaign included occupations and sabotage at sites such as an Elbit Systems factory and a 2021 Leicester drone factory occupation that resulted in acquittals on necessity grounds. On June 20, 2025 two activists sprayed paint into the engines of two military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, causing millions of pounds of damage and prompting the Home Secretary to act. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the proscription on June 23, 2025 and Parliament approved the order in early July, with the ban taking effect on July 5, 2025. Co-founder Huda Ammori sought a judicial review and the High Court in February 2026 found the proscription unlawful for failing to weigh protest rights, but left the ban in place while the government appealed.
As of December 2025 the UK had proscribed 84 international terrorist groups under the Terrorism Act 2000, a wider legal context for today's ruling. Reactions on social media were sharply divided, with supporters calling the ruling a necessary curb on dangerous tactics and critics calling it an attack on protest rights.
The mainstream summary frames the Court of Appeal's ruling primarily as a validation of the government's stance against Palestine Action, emphasizing the group's promotion of violence. However, it does not address the broader implications of this ruling within the context of UK counter-terrorism laws. The definition of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000 is notably expansive, encompassing serious property damage for political purposes, which critics argue could stifle legitimate protest activities. This perspective is underscored by the legal context, which includes the proscription of 84 international terrorist groups as of December 2025, a detail that highlights the government's increasing reach in defining what constitutes terrorism, potentially impacting a wide range of protest movements beyond Palestine Action.[2]
Moreover, the summary overlooks the significant public backlash against the ruling, with social media users expressing concerns that it represents a dangerous precedent for civil liberties. Critics argue that the ruling equates life-saving actions with terrorism, indicating a troubling trend towards criminalizing dissent. This sentiment reflects a growing anxiety about the shrinking space for public protest amid rising national security concerns, a nuance that the mainstream coverage does not fully capture. The implications of this ruling extend beyond Palestine Action, potentially affecting the future of direct-action movements in the UK.[3]
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📊 Relevant Data
As of December 2025, the UK had proscribed 84 international terrorist groups under the Terrorism Act 2000 and 14 organisations in Northern Ireland under previous legislation.
Proscribed Terrorist Organisations — House of Commons Library
Palestine Action actions included attacks causing over £1 million in damage at a Thales defence factory in Glasgow in 2022, plus incidents at Instro Precision in Kent and Elbit Systems in Bristol in 2024.
R (Ammori) v SSHD OPEN Judgment — UK Judiciary
📌 Key Facts
- On June 15, 2026, five UK Court of Appeal judges upheld the government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organization.
- The ruling reverses a High Court decision that had deemed the July 2025 proscription unlawful for infringing protest rights.
- Membership or support for Palestine Action remains a criminal offense carrying penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
- Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr said Palestine Action promotes unlawful violence amounting to terrorism and is not comparable to non-violent protest movements.
- Co-founder Huda Ammori announced plans to seek permission to appeal the decision to the UK Supreme Court.
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