Hamas slams UK court ruling against Palestine Action

Hamas has strongly condemned a UK Court of Appeal decision to uphold the British government's designation of the activist network Palestine Action as a "terrorist" organization, calling the ruling a politically motivated attempt to silence solidarity with Palestinians.

In a statement released shortly after the verdict, the Palestinian group claimed the judicial decision was made "under pressure from Zionist groups."

"Its aim is to persecute and intimidate any action supporting Palestinian rights and condemning the genocide perpetrated [by the Israeli military in Gaza]," Hamas stated, adding that the proscription is a "desperate attempt to silence voices supporting Palestinian rights."

High-Stakes Legal Battle Concludes

The Court of Appeal’s ruling on Monday overturned a February decision by the High Court, which had previously found the government's ban under the Terrorism Act 2000 to be "unlawful and disproportionate."

Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr, leading a panel of five judges, rejected the lower court's finding, stating that Palestine Action's conduct went far beyond non-violent civil disobedience. The court characterized Palestine Action as a "covert organization that operates using secret cells" to destroy the property of third parties.

The decision represents a major victory for UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, whose department argued that the group's escalating actions, which heavily targeted UK-based facilities of Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems, constituted acts of terrorism.

"There is a difference between supporting Palestine and supporting a proscribed terrorist group," Mahmood said following the ruling, emphasizing that lawful protest remains a fundamental democratic right.

Escalating Tensions and Massive Arrests

Originally banned in July 2025 by then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painted military aircraft, Palestine Action has been at the center of a fierce domestic civil liberties debate.

The proscription carries severe consequences under UK law, making membership or public expressions of support for the group a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

The impact of the ongoing legal battle has been sweeping:

• Over 3,000 Total Arrests: The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 117 people were arrested outside the courthouse on Monday alone for demonstrating support for the proscribed group.
• Pending Prosecutions: More than 700 criminal cases related to Palestine Action are currently moving through courts in England and Wales.
• Terrorism Sentencing: Just days before the appeal ruling, four Palestine Action activists were sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to nearly eight years for a 2024 raid on an Elbit Systems factory that caused over £1.2 million in damage.

Rights Groups Express Dismay

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Liberty, both of which intervened in the legal challenge, expressed deep concern over the ruling. Critics argue that using counter-terrorism frameworks against property-damage protest groups sets a dangerous precedent, creating a "chilling effect" on free speech and democratic dissent.

Palestine Action’s co-founder, Huda Ammori, vowed that the legal fight is not over, stating the group intends to appeal the decision to the UK Supreme Court and, if necessary, the European Court of Human Rights.