British justice has declared the ban on Palestine Action illegal

The London High Court last July found it illegal to describe the United Kingdom activist group Palestine Action as "terrorist", concluding that the decision was "disproportionate".

However, the organization shall be prohibited at least until 20 February, at which time the steps to be taken shall be specified at another hearing, after confirmation by the Executive that the judgement shall be appealed. 

The three judges of the High Court, presided over by Victoria Sharp, have pointed out that although the group created in 2020 uses "criminal methods" to protest, its tactics do not meet the standards laid down in the law to be classified as terrorists. 

According to the Court, the State has legal instruments to deal with any crime committed by the organization. The mission of the organization is to boycott companies or organizations cooperating with the Government of Israel that consider it a "genocide".

The process continues.

Huda Ammori, one of the founders of Palestine Action, has said that the ruling is " a monumental victory for both the fundamental freedoms of the United Kingdom and the struggle for the freedom of the Palestinian people. The decision that will forever be remembered as one of the most extreme attacks on freedom of expression in the recent history of the United Kingdom has been overturned. "

The Government banned Palestine Action on July 5, 2025, after members of the network had vandalized Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft at the North American base Brize (south-east of England). 

It was then said that it was an act of protest against the United Kingdom's involvement in the war in Gaza, because the United Kingdom was sending material and the specific base was allowed to be used for fuel by Israeli and American aircraft (which the Executive denied).

Soon after, Ammo challenged the decision of Interior Minister Yvette Cooper to include the group on the list of banned organizations under the Terrorism Act 2000. 

The measure criminalized membership or collaboration with the gang and provided for penalties of up to 14 years' imprisonment.

Since the ban came into force, more than 2,700 people have been arrested for supporting Palestine Action, many of them elderly adults, who have been arrested for simply carrying a banner of support. 

At a November hearing, Ammori's legal team told the court that the ban should be revoked on the grounds that the group acted within an "honorable tradition" of direct action and civil disobedience.

Lawyers from the Ministry of the Interior argued that the ban had achieved its goal of "breaking the pattern of escalatory conduct" of the group and stressed that the measure did not prevent demonstrations in favour of the Palestinian people or against Israeli actions in Gaza.

Although the ruling is favourable, the group will remain banned for a few days; but the London police announced this Friday that they will change the way they manage the protests.

Instead of arresting, as hitherto, the sponsors of Palestine Action, the agents will merely "gather evidence" of alleged offenders, in order to proceed as appropriate when the final status of the organization is confirmed.