Palestine Action, a direct action network that has been at the centre of a legal battle over its proscription as a terrorist organisation, has seen more than 3,200 people arrested since the ban came into effect in July last year. The Home Office is currently challenging a High Court ruling from February that deemed the ban unlawful and disproportionate. This challenge is set to be heard at the Court of Appeal, beginning on Tuesday and expected to conclude on Thursday, before a panel including the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Edis, Lord Justice Lewis, and Lady Justice Whipple.
Origins and Early Actions
The group first emerged in 2020 with a protest at Elbit Systems' UK headquarters in London, where activists broke in and smeared red paint over the building. Its founders are believed to be Huda Ammori and Richard Barnard, though the High Court ruling noted that the extent and nature of its membership and organisation remain largely unexplained. Approximately 20,000 people are said to be on the group's mailing list.
Escalation in 2022
In 2022, Palestine Action targeted the Thales defence factory in Glasgow in a high-profile attack, causing over £1 million worth of damage, including to parts essential for submarines. The sheriff, in passing custodial sentences, described the panic among staff who feared for their safety as pyrotechnics and smoke bombs were thrown during evacuation.
The Underground Manual
Towards the end of 2023, the group released The Underground Manual, which, according to the Home Office, encourages the creation of cells and provides practical guidance on carrying out activities against private companies and government buildings. The manual recommends tactics such as “smashing stuff with an efficient sledgehammer” and targeting expensive equipment or blocking drains with concrete. It also encourages recording actions for publicity.
Increased Activity in 2024
From the start of 2024, Palestine Action's activities increased in frequency and severity. The group targeted sporting events, politicians' homes, and occupied university campuses. More than 15 branches of Barclays Bank across England and Scotland were vandalised, with staff reporting abuse, intimidation, and fear for personal safety. Three protesters avoided jail after demonstrating outside the home of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
2025: The Ban
In 2025, the group claimed responsibility for damaging two Voyager planes at RAF Brize Norton, posting footage of individuals spray painting into a jet engine. The then-home secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced plans to ban the group days later, calling the vandalism “disgraceful.” The ban came into force on July 5, making membership or support for Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. At a High Court hearing in November, Raza Husain KC argued that the “suffragettes would have been liable for proscription” under similar legislation, while Sir James Eadie KC contended that the ban struck a fair balance between rights and community interests.
2026: High Court Ruling and Appeal
In February 2026, the High Court ruled the ban disproportionate, stating that the nature and scale of Palestine Action's activities had not reached the level, scale, and persistence to warrant proscription. The ban remains in place pending the Home Office's appeal. In April, more than 500 people were arrested at a protest in Trafalgar Square, including Massive Attack musician Robert Del Naja, who said before his arrest: “I think that the actions of Palestine Action were highly patriotic because they were pretty much protecting our country from getting involved in serious war crimes, and breaking international law.”
