Judicial review of the Palestine Action ban opens in UK

A judicial review of the controversial Palestine Action ban has started at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, according to Middle East Eye and agencies on November 26th.

The unprecedented review, expected to last three days, will review the legality of the ban. Palestine action co-founder Huda Ammori argued that the ban was illegal on four grounds. The arguments contend that the ban carried a disproportionate limitation on basic rights and that there was a lack of consultation.

The arguments also contend that internal policies were breached by the Home Office when making the decision and that it did not assess levels of public support for the group.

The judicial review has already been hit by controversy after the judge anticipated to be in charge was removed without explanation, at the last instance. In an unusual move, Justice Martin Chamberlain was replaced by a panel of three judges including Judge Victoria Sharp who, according to the advocacy group CAGE International, has ties to the pro-Israel lobbyist Trevor Chinn.

Another judge now on the panel is Dame Karen Steyn, who previously ruled that the government’s policy to allow the sale of fighter jet components to Israel was lawful.

Judge Chamberlain was the judge who had originally allowed the group’s demand for a review of the ban.

Palestine Action is a direct action group known for targeting companies associated with Israel’s war in Gaza. It was banned under the Terrorism Act in July 2025 by then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, after a number of activists broke into the Brize Norton Royal Army Force (RAF) base in Oxfordshire and sprayed paint on two army planes.

Hundreds of people have been arrested for expressing support for the proscribed group; campaign group Defend our Juries estimated there were over 2,000 arrests so far.

Middle East Eye and agencies, Defend Our Juries, CAGE International