From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
UK government lawyers defend Palestine Action ban at court challenge
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Lawyers for the UK government defend a contentious ban, under anti-terror laws, of activist group Palestine Action, as three days of hearings challenging the move conclude.
The government’s legal team argues the decision to criminalize the direct action organization, announced in July, was proportionate following an “escalation” in its activities.
The move makes being a member of the group or supporting it a serious criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
That has resulted in at least 2,300 arrests of demonstrators, according to protest organizers Defend Our Juries, and sparked concerns over free speech and civil liberties.
United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk, the Council of Europe rights watchdog and a number of NGOs have criticized the ban and the “excessive limits” on the right to protest.
Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori challenged the ban at the High Court in London, and hearings in front of a three-judge panel got underway last Wednesday.
Giving evidence on Tuesday, Stephen Kosmin, a lawyer representing the interior ministry, defended “the proportionality of the policy,” saying it was needed “in order to protect the public” and “maintain national security.”
The government outlawed the group days after activists, protesting the war in Gaza, broke into an air force base in southern England and caused an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage to two aircraft.
Ministers have been criticized for taking too broad a view of the definition of what constitutes “terrorism.”
But in written court submissions, the ministry argues that action “can constitute terrorism if it involves serious damage to property even if it does not involve violence against any person or endanger life”.
“Proscribed organisations are deprived of the oxygen of publicity as well as financial support,” the statements note.
Meanwhile, interior minister lawyer Natasha Barnes argues the ban “has not prevented people from protesting in favor of the Palestinian people or against Israel’s action in Gaza.”
Part of the discussions regarding Palestine Action’s activities took place behind closed doors, with the judges imposing some restrictions on journalists reporting on the case.
A decision will be handed down at an unspecified future date.
The Times of Israel Community.