UK Court of Appeal upholds Palestine Action terror ban

The UK Court of Appeal has upheld the government's proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, restoring the ban after a High Court ruling earlier this year said it was unlawful.

The decision keeps the proscription in force and means support for Palestine Action remains a criminal offence under UK terrorism law. It also leaves a large number of arrests and charges tied to the ban in legal limbo while the courts consider what happens next.

The appeal court said the Home Secretary acted lawfully and proportionately in banning the group. According to reporting on the judgment, the panel accepted that the government had broad discretion to proscribe an organization it believed posed a threat.

Chief Justice Sue Carr said Palestine Action was not comparable to non-violent civil disobedience groups and described it as operating covertly through secret cells. Other coverage said the judges also relied on violence and property damage when explaining why the ban was justified.

How the case reached the appeal court

The UK government proscribed Palestine Action in July 2025 under anti-terrorism law.

That move quickly became a major legal and political flashpoint. In February 2026, the High Court ruled that the proscription was unlawful, creating fresh uncertainty over the future of the ban and the cases connected to it.

On June 15, 2026, the Court of Appeal overturned that ruling. The appellate judges restored the government's position and kept the proscription in place while the wider legal fight continues.

Why the ruling matters

The case is now a major test of how far UK counter-terror law can be used against protest-linked direct action groups. It also sharpens the debate over where protest ends and terrorism begins in UK law.

The practical consequences are immediate. AP reported that more than 3,300 people have been arrested over actions linked to support for Palestine Action, and more than 700 have been charged.

Those cases had been paused while the challenge to the ban worked through the courts. A judge is due to decide on June 30 whether those proceedings can now move forward.

If the paused cases resume, the ruling could accelerate enforcement tied to the proscription. If they stay on hold, the legal uncertainty will continue even though the Court of Appeal has restored the ban.

Reaction and next steps

Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori said the group will continue the fight, including by seeking further appeals to the UK Supreme Court and possibly the European Court of Human Rights.

Civil liberties groups and supporters have argued that the proscription amounts to a crackdown on protest. Amnesty International and Liberty are among the organizations that have criticized the wider use of terrorism law in this context.

The government and the court have framed the issue differently, saying the ban was a lawful response to covert and damaging activity. AP reported that the outlawing followed a break-in at a Royal Air Force base in June 2025 and other vandalism actions.

For now, the legal position is clear: the ban stands. The next major milestone is the June 30 hearing on whether the paused cases tied to the proscription can proceed.