UK Court of Appeal weighs Palestine Action terrorism ban

The UK has used proscription powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 mainly against armed jihadist, far-right and separatist organisations. The 2025 Palestine Action order was unusual because it applied terrorism law to a direct-action protest group whose activities centred heavily on property damage. The High Court found on 13 February 2026 that the ban was unlawful but left it in place pending appeal. The 12 June Woolwich Crown Court sentencing then added a separate but related precedent: a judge found a terrorist connection in criminal-damage offences arising from the August 2024 Filton raid on Elbit Systems UK.

The legal fight reflects how the Gaza war has widened into domestic-security debates across Western democracies. Palestine Action frames its activities around opposition to arms supply chains linked to Israel; the UK government frames the most serious actions as coercive, politically motivated damage. The geopolitical issue is not only Israel-Palestine policy, but whether allied states can protect defence infrastructure without recasting broad protest ecosystems as terrorism risks.

The immediate trigger is the Court of Appeal ruling expected on 15 June, following the Home Office appeal against the High Court’s February decision. The issue intensified after the 12 June sentencing of four activists in a related criminal case.