A UK court has dismissed the government’s attempt to prevent a legal challenge to the Home Office’s decision to ban the activist group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws.
The ruling, issued on October 17, 2025, allows the group to contest the designation, which labeled it a proscribed terrorist organization.
In 2024, the UK Home Office added Palestine Action to its list of banned groups, citing alleged links to activities that promote or support terrorism.
The designation criminalizes membership or support for the group, with penalties including up to seven years in prison.
Palestine Action, known for its direct-action campaigns against companies linked to Israel’s military, argues the ban infringes on its right to protest and is politically motivated.
The High Court’s decision to allow the challenge marks a significant setback for the government, which sought to dismiss the case on procedural grounds.
Lawyers for Palestine Action hailed the ruling as a step toward overturning the ban, arguing it stifles legitimate activism.
The Home Office, however, maintains that the designation is justified to protect national security.
The case will now proceed to a full hearing, where Palestine Action will seek to have the proscription order lifted. The outcome could set a precedent for how the UK applies anti-terrorism laws to activist groups.
