The UK Supreme Court has begun hearing an appeal challenging Palestine Action’s designation as a terrorist organisation, as police arrested about 25 demonstrators outside the court in London.
The two-day hearing opened on Wednesday. Cofounder Huda Ammori said ahead of the hearing that she would argue the ban is having a disproportionate effect on freedom of speech and the right to protest. Palestine Action was proscribed by the UK government under then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July 2025, a decision denounced by rights groups including Amnesty International and Liberty. The group describes itself as a direct action movement committed to ending global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime; those found guilty of belonging to or supporting Palestine Action risk up to 14 years in prison.
Outside the Supreme Court, some protesters expressed support for Palestine Action, while others opposed its proscription. One placard read: “God help us Jews who support Palestine and Palestine Action”. The Press Association reported about 25 arrests; the final person detained carried a sign understood to refer to journalist Sarah Helm, who is married to the UK Prime Minister’s national security adviser and had earlier posted a similar line on X but did not face prosecution.
Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UK’s Law and Human Rights Director, said in a statement: “Today was another demonstration of the chaos wrought by the Government’s grave misuse of terrorism powers to proscribe Palestine Action.” He added that their arrest for using the same language that Sarah Helm didn’t face arrest for showed how dangerously vague our terrorism laws are.
The government’s crackdown on pro-Palestine voices has come under intense scrutiny since Israel’s war on Gaza began more than three years ago.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- This case tests the boundary between counterterrorism powers and political protest.
- It could set a precedent for how nonviolent direct action groups are treated under UK law.
- The verdict may influence international opinions on the UK's treatment of pro-Palestine activism.
Background
Palestine Action was proscribed in July 2025, becoming one of the few protest-focused groups on the same legal footing as al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS). The government under Keir Starmer justified the ban on national security grounds, but civil liberties groups have repeatedly challenged it.
Key Perspectives
- Huda Ammori (Palestine Action cofounder): argues the proscription infringes on free speech and protest rights.
- Tom Southerden (Amnesty International UK): calls the ban a misuse of terrorism powers and criticises the arrests of peaceful protesters.
What to Watch
- The Supreme Court's decision, expected after the two-day hearing.
- Whether the government revises the proscription amid ongoing criticism.
- Potential for further protests and legal challenges.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe UK Supreme Court has begun hearing an appeal challenging Palestine Action’s designation as a terrorist organisation.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “An appeal challenging the designation of Palestine Action as a “terrorist” organisation has begun at the United Kingdom’s top court”
- Partly supportedAbout 25 demonstrators were arrested outside the court.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “About 25 protesters were arrested, according to the Press Association”
- Partly supportedRights groups denounced the proscription as the arrests took place.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The decision has since been denounced by rights groups, including Amnesty International and Liberty.”
- SupportedThe two-day hearing began on Wednesday.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The two-day hearing at the Supreme Court in London began on Wednesday.”
- SupportedHuda Ammori said ahead of the hearing she would argue the ban disproportionately affects freedom of speech and the right to protest.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Huda Ammori, cofounder of Palestine Action, said ahead of the hearing that she would argue the ban is having a disproportionate effect on freedom of speech and the right to protest.”
- Partly supportedPalestine Action was proscribed in July 2025 under then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The direct action group was proscribed by the UK government under then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July last year.”
- SupportedThose found guilty of belonging to or supporting Palestine Action risk up to 14 years in prison.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Those found guilty of belonging to or supporting Palestine Action risk up to 14 years in prison.”
- SupportedA placard read, “God help us Jews who support Palestine and Palestine Action”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “One demonstrator held a placard reading: “God help us Jews who support Palestine and Palestine Action”.”
- SupportedThe final person detained carried a sign understood to refer to journalist Sarah Helm, who is married to the UK Prime Minister’s national security adviser and had posted a similar line on X without facing prosecution.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “It’s understood this is in reference to journalist and author Sarah Helm, who is married to the UK Prime Minister’s national security adviser, and who had earlier posted a similar line on X but did not face prosecution.”
- SupportedTom Southerden said, “Today was another demonstration of the chaos wrought by the Government’s grave misuse of terrorism powers to proscribe Palestine Action.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““Today was another demonstration of the chaos wrought by the Government’s grave misuse of terrorism powers to proscribe Palestine Action,” Tom Southerden, Amnesty International’s UK Law and Human Rights Director, said in a statement issued after Wednesday’s arrests.”
- SupportedSoutherden said the arrests for using language Sarah Helm did not face arrest for showed how dangerously vague terrorism laws are.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “That they were arrested for using the same language that Sarah Helm didn’t face arrest for, shows how dangerously vague our terrorism laws are.”