What's happened
On February 13, 2026, the UK High Court ruled the government's proscription of Palestine Action under terrorism laws was disproportionate, citing free speech concerns. The group, known for direct actions against Israeli-linked military sites, was banned in July 2025 after damaging RAF planes. The government plans to appeal, leaving thousands of arrests and prosecutions in legal limbo.
What's behind the headline?
Legal and Political Implications
The High Court's ruling exposes tensions between national security concerns and civil liberties, particularly the right to protest. While the government labelled Palestine Action a terrorist organisation, the court found the scale of their activities insufficient to justify such a severe measure, emphasizing that existing criminal laws suffice for prosecuting illegal acts.
Impact on Free Speech and Protest
The ban led to over 2,700 arrests, including vulnerable individuals, raising questions about proportionality and the chilling effect on peaceful protest. The ruling signals judicial pushback against government overreach, reinforcing protections for political dissent.
Government Response and Future Outlook
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's intention to appeal prolongs legal uncertainty, leaving activists and supporters in limbo. The government's stance reflects a prioritization of national security narratives, despite criticism from civil liberties groups and some politicians.
Broader Context
This case highlights the UK's struggle to balance counterterrorism efforts with democratic freedoms amid the contentious Israel-Palestine conflict. The ruling may set precedent for how protest groups are treated under terrorism legislation going forward.
What Comes Next
The appeal process will determine whether the proscription remains or is lifted, affecting thousands of pending cases. The government’s persistence suggests a continued hardline approach, but judicial scrutiny may curb excessive use of anti-terror laws against protest movements.
What the papers say
The New York Times described the ruling as a setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, noting the ban placed Palestine Action alongside groups like Al Qaeda despite the group's non-violent stance. The Times of Israel highlighted the court's view that the group's activities did not meet the threshold for terrorism proscription, quoting judges who called the ban "disproportionate." The Guardian provided personal accounts from arrested supporters, such as retired army colonel Chris Romberg, who felt "vindicated" but wary of the government's planned appeal. The Independent detailed the legal hold on cases following the ruling, with defendants advised not to attend court until appeals conclude. The Mirror and France 24 emphasized Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's disappointment and commitment to appeal, underscoring the government's framing of Palestine Action as promoting violence. Meanwhile, civil liberties advocates and Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori condemned the ban as an attack on free speech, with Amnesty and Human Rights Watch calling the ruling a victory for democracy. This spectrum of coverage reveals a clash between government security policies and judicial protection of protest rights, with ongoing legal battles shaping the story's trajectory.
How we got here
Palestine Action, formed in 2020, targets Israeli-linked military and industrial sites in the UK through direct action protests. The UK government banned the group in July 2025 under the Terrorism Act 2000 after activists vandalized RAF planes, making support or membership a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Go deeper
- What are the legal grounds for the High Court ruling against the ban?
- How has the government justified the proscription of Palestine Action?
- What impact does this ruling have on protest rights in the UK?
More on these topics
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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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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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Dame Victoria Madeleine Sharp, DBE, QC is the President of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in England and Wales.
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Gaza most commonly refers to:
Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea
Gaza City, a city in the Gaza Strip
Gaza may also refer to: