The UK Court of Appeal ruled on June 15 that the government’s proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act is lawful, overturning a High Court decision from February that had found the ban unlawful [1, 2, 3, 4].

Palestine Action was formally banned on July 5, 2025, with membership or support carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison [1, 4]. Since the ban, over 3,000 people have been arrested for involvement in protests or support of the group, with more than 700 charged [1, 2, 3, 4]. Most arrested individuals held placards bearing slogans such as "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action" during demonstrations organized by Defend Our Juries [1, 2].

The Court of Appeal panel, including Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr and Master of the Rolls Geoffrey Vos, concluded Palestine Action operates as a covert organization using secret cells and engages in violence to damage property. The judges found it “not a sustainable proposition to portray Palestine Action as a non-violent organization,” affirming that the proscription was justified and lawful [3, 4].

The previous High Court ruling had been based on a misinterpretation of government policy, particularly on proportionality and future risk assessments [4].

Four Palestine Action activists were sentenced on June 12 for criminal damage connected to an Israeli weapons company, with the judge recognizing a “terrorist connection” to their offenses [2, 3]. Protesters and those arrested have expressed distress and condemned the prosecutions as disproportionate. Deborah Hinton, an arrested protester, said she felt compelled to act despite being “very upset” and “very nervous,” describing the situation as a drift toward authoritarianism [2]. Her fellow protester Marianne Sorrell said she was “thinking very seriously of getting arrested again” in support of Palestine Action [2].

The Metropolitan Police backed the Court of Appeal ruling and vowed to continue arresting individuals supporting the proscribed group [3].

Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori is pursuing an appeal to the UK Supreme Court [2, 3, 4].