Huge decision made on Palestine Action terror ban as arrests made | Politics | News
Protesters arrested outside the Court of Appeal (Image: Getty)
After judges backed the group’s ban, Shabana Mahmood declared that the Palestine Movement had “committed acts of terrorism” and was celebrating it. The Court of Appeal said pro-Palestinian zealots used “secret cells to avoid detection” and training manuals revealed their “intent to encourage the use of violence regardless of the risk.”
Court of Appeal judges also rejected Palestine Action’s comparison with suffragettes, saying they “had little or nothing in common”. They sided with the Government, arguing that criminal penalties could not deal with the “escalation” of the group, and ruled that the group was a terrorist organisation. The judges said it was “no ordinary protest group”, adding that it targeted “important national infrastructure and defense firms”, including those providing support to Ukraine and NATO.
And the Metropolitan Police has vowed to arrest anyone who supports the banned group.
Huda Ammori, founder of Palestine Action, said she would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood said: “The Court of Appeal’s decision confirms the ban on Palestine Action.
“The court found that Palestine Action committed acts of terrorism, celebrated those who participated in these acts, and encouraged 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 protests in support of the Palestinian cause, which remains a fundamental democratic right. There is a difference between supporting Palestine and supporting a banned terrorist group.
“We will always take the strongest possible steps to protect our national security and ensure the safety of the public.”
Three judges at the Supreme Court ruled in February that then home secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to ban Palestine Action was correct.
The ban, which began on July 5 last year, made membership of or support for a direct action group an offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison, and remained in place when the Home Office tried to appeal the decision.
On Monday, five judges at the Court of Appeal overturned a decision that would have overturned the ban, saying it was a “justified and proportionate” interference with free expression rights.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “In this country we resolve issues through debate and elections. No matter how strongly someone feels about an issue, there is no justification for the violence and mayhem caused by this organisation.”
“The Conservatives were clear that Palestine Action should be banned as a terrorist organisation. Groups that systematically destroy property and attack police officers are criminals operating under a political banner and the law should treat them accordingly.”
The judges said people were still free to support the Palestinian cause and oppose Israel and the Israeli defense force.
“But it is a fundamental mistake to overlook the fact that Palestine Action openly encourages extrajudicial violence amounting to terrorism,” they added.
“It is not, as claimed, a direct action civil disobedience protest group operating in the open, transparently, like the suffragettes.”
They said: “Palestine Action has little or nothing in common with women’s rights activists or anti-apartheid or Iran war protest groups.”
Protesters detained by police (Image: Getty)
The Court of Appeal’s decision came just days after four Palestine Action activists were jailed for raiding the UK factory of Israel-based defense firm Elbit System in 2024.
The group used sledgehammers and crowbars to destroy computers, drones and other equipment before police and security intervened.
A police officer’s spine was broken after he was hit with a sledgehammer during the raid.
The banning order also followed an attack on RAF Brize Norton in June 2025, which damaged two military aircraft, the judges said.
They said: “Palestine Action’s campaign aimed to shut down Elbit and other legitimate businesses.
“It has taken direct criminal action against businesses and institutions, including key national infrastructure and defense firms, that provide services and materiel in support of Ukraine, NATO, the ‘Five Eyes’ allies and the UK defense enterprise.”
Ms. Ammori, on behalf of the group, insisted they were not a violent group.
He said: “By the government’s own logic, the suffragettes, anti-apartheid activists and anti-war direct action groups Keir Starmer once defended as a lawyer could have been labeled ‘terrorists’.
The Metropolitan Police said: “We accept the Court of Appeal’s decision that the Home Secretary’s decision to ban Palestine Action was lawful.
“This means supporting the organization remains a criminal offense and officers will arrest those who break the law.
“Officers are checking a protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice today, where some people held up banners supporting Palestine Action. Arrests are ongoing.”
