High Court Quashes Palestine Action Proscription
High Court ruled the Home Office unlawfully proscribed Palestine Action, but the ban remains in place pending appeal and a consequential hearing on Feb. 20.
Overview
London's High Court ruled that the Home Office's decision to proscribe Palestine Action was unlawful, but judges kept the proscription in place to allow for an appeal.
The government proscribed Palestine Action last July after activists broke into the RAF Brize Norton base in June, spraying red paint into two tanker plane engines and causing further damage with crowbars.
Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori called the ruling a 'monumental victory,' and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she would appeal and was 'disappointed' by the judgment.
More than 2,000 people have been arrested since the proscription, with some 694 charged for allegedly showing support, and officials say Palestine Action's actions have caused millions of pounds in damage.
The High Court set a consequential hearing for Feb. 20 to decide next steps, and the government has said it will appeal the ruling.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a judicial rebuke of government overreach, prioritizing civil‑liberties and legal‑procedure angles. They emphasize the High Court's critique, arrest figures (2,000+), and protest‑rights implications, highlight activist and civil‑liberties voices, and include but subordinate government/security claims—shaping a narrative of legal restraint over rapid proscription.
Sources (3)
FAQ
In June 2025, Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton base using electric scooters, sprayed red paint into two RAF tanker plane engines with repurposed fire extinguishers, and caused further damage with crowbars.[1]
The High Court ruled the Home Office's decision to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 was unlawful, though specific reasons are detailed in the judgment; the ban remains pending appeal.[3]
The ban remains in place pending a government appeal; a consequential hearing is set for February 20 to decide further steps.[story]
Over 2,000 people have been arrested since the July 2025 proscription, with 694 charged for allegedly showing support; actions have caused millions in damage.[story][4]
History
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