Britain's High Court says government acted illegally in outlawing protest group Palestine Action

Britain’s High Court has ruled that the government’s decision to ban the protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was unlawful and disproportionate. The ruling, delivered by Judges Victoria Sharp, Jonathan Swift, and Karen Steyn, stated that the group's activities did not meet the threshold of scale and persistence required for proscription under terrorism laws. The government had outlawed the group following a June incident where activists breached a Royal Air Force base to protest British military support for Israel. Since the ban, over 2,700 people have been arrested and nearly 700 charged under the Terrorism Act, though no convictions have been secured. While the court declared the ban unlawful, it remains in effect pending an appeal by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who maintains the group is a terrorist organization. Palestine Action, formed in 2020, frequently targets defense manufacturers like Elbit Systems UK, causing significant damage. The Metropolitan Police have indicated they will pause arrests for simple expressions of support following the judgment but will continue monitoring for other offenses.