London Appeal Court Upholds UK Ban on Palestine Action as Terror Group

A London appeals court on Monday upheld the British government’s decision to outlaw Palestine Action, ruling that the Home Office acted proportionately and lawfully in banning the group for violent activity by its members. Judge Sue Carr said the ban was “extremely controversial,” but warned it would be a “fundamental error” to ignore the group’s promotion of unlawful violence comparable to terrorism.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood welcomed the ruling, saying Palestine Action’s actions “are not consistent with democratic values and the rule of law.” The government first proscribed the group in July 2025 after a series of attacks, including a June 2025 raid on a Royal Air Force base in which activists damaged two military aircraft. A month later, after the ban was imposed, activists broke into an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol, caused more than $1 million in damage, and assaulted police.

The designation places Palestine Action on the same legal footing as groups such as al-Qaeda, Hezbollah and the IRA. It makes any protest organized by its members illegal, allows supporters to face up to six months in prison, and can bring up to 14 years for membership or organizing supportive events. Since the ban, more than 3,400 supporters have been arrested, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

The group had challenged the ban, and in February the lower court said it was disproportionate and violated rights to free speech and assembly. The Home Office appealed immediately, keeping the designation in force pending the outcome. Founding member Huda Ammori said she will now appeal to the Supreme Court and, if needed, the European Court of Human Rights, writing on X: “We will not stop fighting to lift this ban.”

Hundreds of people were outside the court awaiting the ruling, including supporters facing charges for expressing backing for Palestine Action. One, 47-year-old writer Chris Houghton, said, “I’m a writer of children’s books, I’m not a terrorist.” Five appeal judges also rejected comparisons to anti-apartheid or Iraq war protesters, with Carr saying the group is not a transparent civil-disobedience movement but a secretive organization that shields violent actors who destroy property and injure people.