**High Court Declines to Block Palestine Action Ban as Terrorist Group**
Palestine Action is on the brink of being officially banned, following a High Court ruling which has refused to grant its co-founder, Huda Ammori, a temporary reprieve. Ms Ammori had sought an urgent injunction to prevent the group’s imminent designation as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000. The organisation, known for its protests and direct actions, faces criminalisation after a recent government move that received parliamentary approval.
The judicial decision was handed down by Mr Justice Chamberlain on Friday, who determined that the public interest in enforcing the proscription outweighed potential harm to the group or its supporters should the ban later be overturned. “I have concluded that the harm which would ensue if interim relief is refused but the claim later succeeds is insufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the order in force,” Justice Chamberlain stated.
Palestine Action, which campaigns predominantly against arms companies linked to Israel, will see its supporters and members risk up to 14 years in prison under the new legal framework. This decision follows both the House of Commons and House of Lords agreeing to the group’s proscription earlier in the week, joining a list of 81 already banned organisations, which includes Hamas and al Qaida.
During the High Court session, barrister Raza Husain KC, representing Ms Ammori, argued that the order constituted an “ill-considered” and “authoritarian abuse of statutory power”. He highlighted the unprecedented nature of the move, telling the court, “This is the first time in our history that a direct action civil disobedience group, which does not advocate for violence, has been sought to be proscribed as terrorists.” Husain also invoked Britain’s tradition of civil resistance, making reference to suffragettes and anti-apartheid activists.
Fellow barrister Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC, also appearing for Ms Ammori, raised concerns over the legal and social implications of the ban. She asserted that there would be “far-reaching” and possibly “irreparable” harm, possibly leading members of the public to self-censor their opinions or activism. A critical issue raised was a lack of specific legal safeguards for lawyers representing Palestine Action should the ban go ahead. Ni Ghralaigh even referenced author Sally Rooney’s concerns regarding her support for Palestine Action, asking if well-known public figures could be targeted for denouncement due to the new regulations.
For the Government, Ben Watson KC countered that a temporary halt to the ban would fundamentally undermine the statutory regime in place. He pointed out that the group retains the ability to challenge its proscription through the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission—a specialist tribunal—rather than relying solely on High Court intervention.
The legal drama unfolds against a backdrop of recent direct action by Palestine Action, notably an incident at RAF Brize Norton last month where two military aircraft were damaged, reportedly causing up to £7 million in losses. Four individuals have since been charged in connection with the event, which Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described as “disgraceful”, reinforcing her stance that the group’s long record of criminal damage warranted the ban. Cooper had announced the proscription plans days after the aircraft incident, although Justice Chamberlain noted that assessments to designate the group had commenced as early as March.
A further High Court hearing is scheduled for later this month, where it will be determined whether Ms Ammori and her legal team can proceed with a full challenge against the government’s decision.
While this development puts Palestine Action under intense scrutiny and risk, it also raises broader questions about the limits of protest, free speech, and the changing boundaries of the law in the UK. The outcome of the upcoming hearings will likely have implications not just for Palestine Action, but for the future of direct action as a form of protest more broadly.
Observers and human rights groups will be watching closely, as the matter touches on long-standing debates about the definition of terrorism, proportionality of state power, and the right to dissent. For now, however, the ban appears set to take effect at midnight, leaving members and supporters of Palestine Action in a deeply uncertain position.