The UK Court of Appeal has ruled that the ban on the direct action group Palestine Action is lawful, overturning a previous High Court judgment. The appeal judges stated the High Court had wrongly limited the Home Secretary's discretion regarding national security. Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action and the individual who brought the legal challenge, expressed disappointment but remained confident in their eventual victory, asserting the ban is disproportionate to free speech and the right to protest. Ammori indicated the group would pursue the case to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.
Simultaneously with the legal proceedings, a civil disobedience campaign has seen over 3,000 arrests, primarily for holding pro-Palestine placards. On the day of the appeal ruling, an additional 117 people were arrested outside the Court of Appeal and two outside the Old Bailey, where a criminal trial involving activists from the group is ongoing. Ammori characterized the case as political and stated that victory would be achieved through street action and defiance.
This judgment follows the recent sentencing of four Palestine Action activists convicted of criminal damage for a raid on an Israeli manufacturer's arms factory near Bristol in 2024. During the trial, the judge restricted the activists' ability to explain their motivations. At the sentencing, the judge ruled there was a 'terrorist connection' to the criminal damage charge, a point not presented to the jury. Ammori suggested this orchestration was intended to secure convictions and justify the ban on Palestine Action.
Despite these setbacks, Ammori urged supporters to remain strong and continue their resistance in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the court found Palestine Action had carried out acts of terrorism, celebrated such acts, and promoted violence, emphasizing that the decision does not impact lawful protest in support of the Palestinian cause.