UK High Court Says Ban On Palestine Action 'Unlawful', Starmer Govt To Appeal

Last Updated:February 13, 2026, 18:03 IST

Britain’s High Court ruled the government unlawfully designated Palestine Action as a terrorist group, but the ban remains while Interior Minister plans to appeal the decision.

Britain’s High Court has ruled that the government acted unlawfully in designating the protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.

The group was proscribed in July after carrying out a series of direct action protests targeting Israel-linked defence companies in the UK. Its activities included blocking entrances to facilities and spraying red paint on buildings in what it described as non-violent demonstrations.

In their judgment, Justices Victoria Sharp, Jonathan Swift and Karen Steyn said that while Palestine Action’s activities were disruptive, they did not meet the “level, scale and persistence" required to justify proscription under terrorism laws.

However, the court said the ban will remain in force temporarily while the government considers whether to challenge the decision.

Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood said she intends to appeal the ruling. “I am disappointed by the court’s decision and disagree with the notion that banning this terrorist organisation is disproportionate," she said in a statement. “I intend to fight this judgment in the Court of Appeal."

The UK government had last year listed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation alongside groups such as al Qaeda and Hamas. Under the designation, membership in or support for the group became a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Since the ban, more than 2,000 people including some in their 80s  have reportedly been arrested for displaying signs expressing support for Palestine Action.

The government moved to outlaw the group after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base in June to protest Britain’s military support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. During the incident, protesters sprayed red paint into the engines of two tanker aircraft and allegedly caused additional damage using crowbars.

Founded in 2020, Palestine Action has staged protests at military and industrial sites across the UK, including facilities linked to Israeli defence company Elbit Systems UK. Authorities say the group’s actions have resulted in millions of pounds in damage and posed risks to national security.

Supporters of the group, along with civil liberties organisations, argue that the proscription and subsequent arrests undermine freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.

The legal battle now appears set to continue in the Court of Appeal.

News world UK High Court Says Ban On Palestine Action 'Unlawful', Starmer Govt To Appeal

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