Huge decision made on Palestine Action terror ban as arrests made | Politics | News
Protesters were arrested outside the Court of Appeal (Image: Getty)
Palestine Action has “carried out acts of terrorism” and celebrated it, Shabana Mahmood declared, as judges backed the group’s ban. The pro-Palestine zealots use “secret cells to avoid detection”, and training manuals reveal their “intention to promote the use of violence regardless of the risk”, the Court of Appeal said.
And judges at the Court of Appeal dismissed Palestine Action’s comparison to the suffragettes, saying they have “little or nothing in common”. They sided with the Government, who argued criminal punishments could not cope with the group’s “escalation”, and ruled that it is a terrorist organisation. Judges said it was no “ordinary protest group”, adding it had targeted “key national infrastructure and defence firms”, including those providing support to Ukraine and NATO.
And the Metropolitan Police vowed to arrest anyone who supports the banned group.
Palestine Action’s founder, Huda Ammori, said it would appeal the decision at the Supreme Court.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The Court of Appeal’s judgment upholds the proscription of Palestine Action.
“The Court has found that Palestine Action has carried out acts of terrorism, celebrated those who have taken part in those acts and promoted the use of violence.
“It is not an ordinary protest or civil disobedience group, and its actions are not consistent with democratic values and the rule of law.
“This decision does not affect lawful protest in support of the Palestinian cause, which remains a fundamental democratic right. There is a difference between supporting Palestine and supporting a proscribed terrorist group.
“We will always take the strongest possible action to protect our national security and keep the public safe.”
Three judges at the High Court ruled in February that the then-home secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action
The ban, which began on July 5 last year, made membership of, or support for, the direct action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, and has remained in force as the Home Office attempted to challenge the ruling.
At the Court of Appeal on Monday, five judges said the ban was a “justified and proportionate” interference on freedom of expression rights and overturned a ruling which was set to quash it.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “In this country, we decide issues by debate and elections. There is no justification for violence and disruption caused by this organisation, no matter how strongly someone feels about an issue.
“The Conservatives have been clear that Palestine Action should be proscribed as a terrorist organisation. Groups that organise systematic property destruction and attacks on police officers are criminals operating under a political banner, and the law should treat them accordingly.”
The judges said people were still free to express support for the Palestinian cause, opposition to Israel and the Israeli defence force.
“But it is a fundamental mistake to overlook the fact that Palestine Action overtly promotes unlawful violence amounting to terrorism”, they added.
“It is not – as claimed – a direct action civil disobedience protest group like the suffragettes, operating transparently in the open.”
They said: “Palestine Action has little or nothing in common with the suffragettes or the anti-apartheid or Iran war protest groups.”
Protesters were arrested by police (Image: Getty)
The Court of Appeal’s decision comes just days after four Palestine Action activists who mounted a raid on Israel-based defence firm Elbit System’s UK factory in 2024 were jailed.
The group used sledgehammers and crowbars to destroy computers, drones and other equipment before police and security intervened.
A police officer suffered a fractured spine in the raid after being hit with a sledgehammer.
The judges said that the decision to proscribe it also came in the wake of an attack at RAF Brize Norton in June 2025, in which two military aircraft were damaged.
They said: “Palestine Action’s campaign was intended to close down Elbit and other lawful businesses.
“It took direct criminal action against businesses and institutions, including key national infrastructure and defence firms that provide services and supplies to support Ukraine, Nato, the ‘Five Eyes’ allies and the UK defence enterprise.”
Ms Ammori, for the group, insisted that they were not a violent group.
She said: “By the Government’s own logic, the suffragettes, anti-apartheid activists and the anti-war direct action groups that Keir Starmer himself once defended as a lawyer could have been labelled ‘terrorists’.
The Metropolitan Police said: “We acknowledge the Court of Appeal’s judgment that the Home Secretary’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action was lawful.
“This means that expressing support for the organisation remains a criminal offence and officers will arrest those who break the law.
“Officers are policing a protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice today where a number of people are displaying placards in support of Palestine Action. Arrests are under way.”
