Britain court upholds ban on Palestine Action as terrorist group

LONDON -- The British Court of Appeal ruled on Monday that the government's proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was lawful, overturning an earlier High Court judgment that had found the ban unlawful.

In one of the most closely watched national security cases in Britain in recent years, five senior judges concluded that the government's decision to ban the group had "struck a fair balance" between national security considerations and rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr said in the judgment that it was not a "sustainable proposition" to describe Palestine Action as a non-violent protest group.

"Palestine Action openly promotes unlawful violence that amounts to terrorism," she said.

The ruling reversed a February decision by the High Court.

Under the proscription, it is a criminal offense to belong to or support Palestine Action, with a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

In July 2025, Members of Parliament voted to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group after its members broke into Royal Air Force Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager aircraft with red paint and causing 7 million pounds ($9.4 million) worth of damage. The group claimed responsibility for the incident at the time.