A High Court judge has allowed Palestine Action to contest its UK terrorist designation, despite allegations of multi-million‑pound property damage and violent protest tactics.
In a decision stirring controversy across Britain, a UK High Court judge has granted pro-Palestinian activist network Palestine Action permission to challenge the government’s decision to designate it as a terrorist organization.
The ruling, reported by the Jewish Chronicle, allows the group to advance two legal claims deemed “reasonably arguable”:
- That the Home Secretary failed to consult with the group before imposing the ban.
- That the proscription may violate rights to freedom of expression and assembly protected under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The judge dismissed six other claims filed by Palestine Action co‑founder Huda Ammori, who initiated the legal battle after the government officially banned the group earlier this month under the Terrorism Act.
From Parliament to the Courts
The UK formally proscribed Palestine Action on July 5, 2024, following an overwhelming House of Commons vote of 385 to 26. The House of Lords later endorsed the move, and the Court of Appeal rejected an emergency bid to block the ban.
Conservative MP Jack Rankin slammed the High Court decision, posting on X:
“Palestinian Action invaded RAF Brize Norton and damaged military aircraft — terrorism.”
Security Minister Dan Jarvis told Parliament that the group’s activities had crossed the threshold between criminality and terrorism, describing a “nationwide campaign of coordinated attacks causing serious property damage.”
Trail of Destruction
The government’s decision to proscribe the group came after a series of high-profile incidents:
- RAF Brize Norton Attack: Activists breached the air force base, defacing two military aircraft with red paint and causing an estimated £7 million in damages.
- Cambridge University Vandalism: A portrait of Lord Balfour at Trinity College was sprayed with red paint and slashed.
- Theft at Manchester University: Two busts of Chaim Weizmann, Israel’s first president, were stolen from a locked glass cabinet.
The Home Office has not yet commented on the High Court ruling.
What’s Next
The case now moves forward, with Palestine Action preparing to argue that its militant campaign against UK sites linked to Israel’s defense sector constitutes legitimate political protest rather than terrorism.
