UK Home Office Wins Right to Challenge Palestine Action Ban Appeal

The UK Home Office has been granted permission to appeal a High Court ruling that allows Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori to challenge the government's ban of the group as a terrorist organisation. The Court of Appeal, led by Lord Justice Underhill, stated the government's appeal has a real prospect of success and scheduled the hearing for September 25, ahead of Ammori's planned November legal challenge. The ban, enacted after Palestine Action activists damaged military aircraft at an RAF base, criminalises membership or support of the group and has led to over 700 arrests by the Metropolitan Police. Ammori criticises Home Secretary Yvette Cooper for pursuing the appeal, arguing it suppresses free speech and avoids scrutiny of the ban decision. The government defends the proscription as necessary to target serious criminality linked to the group. Meanwhile, a separate legal bid by Palestinians accuses Britain of a century of oppression during its mandate over Palestine, seeking acknowledgement, apology, and reparations for alleged violations contributing to the Israel-Palestine conflict.