Palestine Action ban appeal reaches UK Supreme Court as 27 are arrested
Huda Ammori is challenging the proscription under anti-terrorism law. Police arrested 27 people outside the court as arguments over protest rights and the ban’s scope began.
The UK Supreme Court began hearing Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori’s challenge to the group’s proscription on 4 November 2026, while police arrested 27 people outside the London court on suspicion of displaying support for a proscribed organisation. The case concerns the government’s use of anti-terrorism legislation and the consequences of the ban for people arrested at protests.
How the Palestine Action ban reached the Supreme Court
Ammori is challenging the government’s decision to proscribe the group. Three High Court judges ruled the ban unlawful in February, The Standard reported, but five Court of Appeal judges reversed that decision in June. The Supreme Court is hearing her appeal against the Court of Appeal ruling.
Ammori’s lawyer, Raza Husain, argued that only a small fraction of Palestine Action’s activities met the legal definition of terrorism and that the ban interfered with protest rights. The Associated Press reported Husain’s argument that three of 385 actions over five years met that definition, and that those involved property damage. The National reported a court submission from Husain that less than 1 per cent of the group’s activities over five years fell within the definition. These are arguments for Ammori, not findings by the justices.
The government is opposing the appeal. The Standard reported that it says the Court of Appeal made no legal error. Government lawyer James Eadie argued that serious property damage can constitute terrorism even without violence against people, according to the Associated Press. The dispute puts the legal basis for the proscription and its effect on protest before the court.
Arrests and charges linked to Palestine Action protests
The BBC reported that Home Office figures it had seen showed more than 4,000 arrests at protests where people displayed signs supporting Palestine Action, with prosecutors authorising 1,200 charges. Many demonstrators had been arrested more than once, the BBC said, and trials linked to the arrests were in limbo pending the Supreme Court case. The Standard separately reported that the court had been told more than 3,000 people had been arrested since the ban; that figure uses different wording and scope from the BBC’s arrest tally.
Jewish communal groups also opposed Ammori’s challenge. Represented by Adam Wagner KC, they argued that the group’s activities threatened community interests, the BBC reported. Their position was a submission to the court, as was the case made for Ammori.
The hearing was due to continue on Thursday, 5 November, and the BBC reported that a judgment was expected later. The reports available on 4 November did not include a decision.
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Sources and context
- Arrests made as Supreme Court begins hearing appeal against Palestine Action banThe Standard (carrying publisher); PA Wire
- London police make arrests outside court hearing Palestine Action ban appealAssociated Press, carried by Hindustan Times
- Palestine Action makes final appeal to UK's Supreme Court as new direct action group emergesThe National
- Palestine Action ban undermined confidence in anti-terror laws, Supreme Court toldBBC News
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.