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Supreme Court greenlights appeal
Britain’s Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal brought by Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori against a Court of Appeal ruling upholding the group’s ban under the Terrorism Act.
“The Metropolitan Police force said 117 people had been arrested”
The AP reported that UK police arrested dozens outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after protesters shouted “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,” with the Metropolitan Police saying 117 people were arrested, most for “expressing support for a proscribed organization.”
The Independent said the ban began on 5 July last year and made membership of, or support for, Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
AP also said the Supreme Court’s decision came after the Court of Appeal ruled the ban was a “justified and proportionate” interference with freedom of expression, and that cases of people charged with breaching the ban were put on hold until the Supreme Court rules.
Arrests, chants, and quotes
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, protesters chanted “I oppose genocide, and I support Palestine Action,” as the Metropolitan Police said 77 people were arrested, mostly on the charge of “expressing support for a banned organization.”
The Independent quoted Ammori saying Thursday’s arrests “further evidences our case that the proscription of Palestine Action has become a vehicle for a far broader crackdown on expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
AP reported that more than 1,200 people have been charged under the Terrorism Act, while noting that no one has yet been convicted.
The Guardian said the Supreme Court’s decision left the fate of more than 3,500 people arrested for alleged support of Palestine Action “in limbo as their cases are on hold until the legality of proscription has been definitely resolved.”
What’s at stake next
The Supreme Court’s permission to appeal means the legality of Palestine Action’s proscription will now be examined by the UK’s highest court, with a hearing expected sometime between October and December, according to AP and France 24.
“expedited hearing expected sometime between October to December”
AP said the government outlawed Palestine Action after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base in June 2025 to protest British military support for Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, and that the group challenged the ban after it was quashed by the High Court in February.
France 24 reported that the ban has led to more than 3,500 arrests, and said the Supreme Court expected an expedited hearing between October to December, with hearings related to more than 2,000 cases postponed until October.
In the meantime, AP said civil liberties groups argued the ban and subsequent arrests are unjustified restrictions on the rights to protest and free speech, quoting Human Rights Watch’s Thomas Bell: “Using counterterror powers to suppress dissent goes against democratic values and harms freedom of expression and assembly in this country.”
