The British government has initiated a legal move to prevent a High Court review of the classification of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. This action follows a July ruling that permitted group leader Huda Ammori to seek judicial scrutiny of the designation.

The Home Office argues that this matter should be handled by a specialist tribunal rather than the High Court, signaling a potential pivotal shift in how such cases are adjudicated in the UK.

Palestine Action was labeled a terrorist entity under the Terrorism Act 2000 after its members spray-painted British aircraft alleged to have transported arms to Israel. This label criminalizes membership and support for the group, with penalties including up to 14 years in prison.

This designation was met with international and domestic criticism. Entities such as the UN, several UK Members of Parliament, and civil liberties groups like Netpol Lawyers have condemned the move, viewing it as a misuse of counter-terrorism laws and a threat to democratic freedoms.

The controversy has not dampened support for Palestine Action; since the ban, over 1,600 supporters have been arrested, including 857 at a recent non-violent protest. Critics, including the UK Human Rights Commission, have flagged police actions at these events as excessively harsh.

Founded in 2020, Palestine Action is a direct action group that opposes what it views as UK complicity in Israeli actions in Gaza, recently labeled a genocide by a UN commission. The group has been active in staging protests and disrupting operations of Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems.

In July, co-founder Huda Ammori challenged the terrorist designation, arguing it disproportionately infringes on rights to protest and free expression, protected under the UK's Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention of Human Rights.

As the legal challenge progresses, the outcome will significantly impact not only the fate of those arrested but also the broader implications for protest rights and counter-terrorism legislation in the UK.