In a decisive ruling on Friday, the UK Court of Appeal authorized Palestine Action, a British activist group, to proceed with a legal challenge against its designation as a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000. This decision follows the Home Office's unsuccessful attempt to prevent the case from being reviewed, marking a significant victory for the group and its co-founder, Huda Ammori.

The controversy began in June when Home Secretary Yvette Cooper declared Palestine Action a terrorist entity, citing their actions of spray-painting British aircraft purportedly carrying weapons to Israel. The subsequent ban, effective from July, criminalizes membership in or support for the group, with penalties reaching up to 14 years in prison.

Judge Sue Carr, presiding over the appeal, dismissed the Home Office’s attempt to block the judicial review, thus enabling the case to advance to the High Court. Ammori responded to the ruling with a statement condemning the ban as "Orwellian" and calling for the government to reconsider its stance amidst substantial public disapproval.

The judges highlighted deficiencies in the current appeal process via the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (POAC), which they argued does not sufficiently safeguard the rights of those already charged under the new law. They affirmed that a judicial review would serve as a more suitable and potent means to challenge the legality of the proscription order.

The legal team defending Palestine Action argued that the Home Office did not adequately assess the proportionality of the ban under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect freedoms of expression and assembly. They also criticized the government for lack of consultation and failure to consider alternative, less restrictive measures.

Despite these claims, the Home Office maintains that the activities of Palestine Action meet the statutory definition of terrorism due to their repeated acts of criminal damage targeting facilities involved in arms production for Israel.

A full hearing to assess the merits of the judicial review is scheduled for November. This case not only challenges the specific designation of Palestine Action but also tests the boundaries of governmental authority in labeling groups as terrorist organizations under UK law.