Key facts
- London's Appeals Court ruled the UK government's ban on Palestine Action was lawful.
- The ban, enacted in July 2025, makes membership or support for the group a criminal offense.
- The group had challenged the ban, but the Appeals Court reversed a High Court ruling in their favor.
- Palestine Action primarily targets weapons factories, particularly those belonging to Elbit.
- Four activists were recently jailed for damaging Elbit property, causing over £1 million in damage.
London's Appeals Court has upheld the UK government's ban on the pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action, reversing a previous High Court decision. The ban, implemented on July 5, 2025, under the country's Terrorism Act, criminalizes membership or support for the group, with potential penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
Palestine Action, co-founded by Huda Ammori, had argued the ban was disproportionate and infringed on human rights. However, the Appeals Court, with judge Sue Carr delivering the verdict, stated that the group operates as a "covert organisation" using violence to destroy property, rather than a transparent civil disobedience group.
Since the ban, approximately 3,000 individuals have been arrested. The group, which has targeted weapons factories, particularly those of Israel-based defense firm Elbit, aims to end "global participation in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime." The ruling follows the recent sentencing of four activists to between four years and eight months, and seven years and eight months in prison for a raid on an Elbit site in August 2024, which caused over £1 million in damages, including to drones and other equipment. One activist struck a police officer with a sledgehammer, causing a fractured spine.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper had previously defended the proscription, asserting that supporters were unaware of the organization's "full nature" and emphasizing it is "not a non-violent organisation."