The British government has been granted permission to appeal a High Court ruling that found its ban on the pro-Palestinian campaign group Palestine Action to be unlawful. The court said the ban was a disproportionate interference with free speech rights, but it will remain in force while the appeal is considered.

Palestine Action was banned in July after a series of direct actions targeting Israel-linked defence companies in Britain, including incidents involving blocked entrances and property damage. The move followed a break-in at a Royal Air Force base in June, where activists damaged two aircraft, prompting strong condemnation from Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The ban classified the group alongside organisations such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda, making membership a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The earlier court ruling cast doubt on ongoing prosecutions of hundreds of people accused of expressing support for the group, leading police to prioritise evidence gathering over arrests as the legal process continues.