What's happened
The UK High Court ruled that proscribing Palestine Action was disproportionate, overturning the government's 2025 ban. The group, known for direct actions against Israeli arms manufacturers, had been designated a terrorist organization, leading to thousands of arrests. The ruling supports free speech amid ongoing protests and legal challenges.
What's behind the headline?
The court's decision marks a significant shift in UK civil liberties jurisprudence, emphasizing that the scale and nature of Palestine Action's activities did not meet the threshold for proscription. This ruling underscores the tension between national security measures and free speech rights. The government's attempt to label the group as a terrorist organization appears to have been driven by its high-profile protests and direct actions, which, while disruptive, fall within the scope of civil disobedience rather than terrorism. The ruling will likely embolden other protest groups and challenge broad anti-terror legislation. Moving forward, the UK government will face increased scrutiny over its use of anti-terror laws to suppress political activism, especially related to Palestine and Israel. The legal outcome may lead to a reassessment of how direct action is classified and prosecuted, with potential implications for civil liberties and protest rights in the UK.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera reports that the High Court found the government's proscription of Palestine Action disproportionate, highlighting the group's role in protests against Israeli arms manufacturers and UK support for Israel. The article quotes Palestine Action cofounder Huda Ammori, who claims the ban has backfired by making the group more prominent and empowering grassroots activism. Priyanka Shankar from Al Jazeera notes that the ban was initially enacted after activists vandalized military aircraft in June 2025, with the government equating the group's actions to terrorism. The Times of Israel emphasizes that the ban followed a damaging raid on RAF aircraft, with UK authorities asserting that Palestine Action's activities caused millions in damages and posed a national security threat. The court's ruling, however, challenges this classification, citing the scale and persistence of the group's actions as insufficient for proscription, and criticizes the broad use of anti-terror laws to suppress legitimate protests.
How we got here
In 2025, the UK government banned Palestine Action, a group protesting against Israel's military actions and UK support, after activists vandalized military aircraft and facilities linked to Israel. The ban classified the group as a terrorist organization, equating it with groups like al-Qaeda. The decision followed a series of direct actions, including damaging aircraft at RAF bases and vandalizing Elbit Systems UK sites. Critics argued the ban suppressed legitimate protest and free speech, leading to widespread arrests and legal battles. The recent court ruling challenges the proportionality of the ban, citing concerns over civil liberties and the group's political motives.
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Shabana Mahmood is a British Labour Party politician and barrister serving as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Ladywood since 2010. She has served in the Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer as the Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator since 2021.
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Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian protest network that uses direct action tactics to shut down and disrupt multinational arms dealers. In particular, the group targets UK-based operations that provide weapons used in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.