The hearing marks the final domestic legal challenge brought by co-founder Huda Ammori following the proscription enacted in February 2025. Government lawyers claim the network's covert property damage against Israeli defense contractors fits statutory terrorism definitions, relying in part on assessments from the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre. In defense, legal counsel argued the campaign exclusively targeted arms manufacturer Elbit Systems and that the ban unlawfully curtails fundamental speech and assembly rights. A security-cleared special advocate will represent the appellants during the secret evidence phase before the judges issue their final ruling.
Key points
The Home Office maintains that covert planning and destructive targeting of weapons firms…: The Home Office maintains that covert planning and destructive targeting of weapons firms legally qualify as acts of terrorism.
Defense attorneys argue the state's severe measures disproportionately violate the assemb…: Defense attorneys argue the state's severe measures disproportionately violate the assembly and speech rights of hundreds of thousands of citizens.
The Supreme Court has concluded open arguments and will issue its judgment regarding the…: The Supreme Court has concluded open arguments and will issue its judgment regarding the legality of the ban at a later date.
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The appeal against the ban on Palestine Action entered closed proceedings at the UK Supreme Court on Thursday, after the government and lawyers representing the group's co-founder concluded their public arguments, paving the way for judges to hear secret evidence presented by the government.
Opening the proceedings, James Eadie KC, representing the Home Office, disputed claims that Palestine Action "stood within the long tradition of civil disobedience in Britain".
"Their activities are planned and undertaken secretly in order to avoid detection," Eadie said, adding that they caused "serious damage to property".
Reiterating that the court should defer to parliament's decision to ban Palestine Action, Eadie argued that the direct-action group's track record of property damage to Israeli weapons met the legal definition of terrorism.
Read more: Palestine Action ban appeal enters closed proceedings at UK Supreme Court
Exercising his constitutional clemency authority during his final months in office, Gavin Newsom emptied the largest capital punishment registry in the nation. The outgoing governor argued the system is an unfixable failure, effectively ensuring that hundreds of condemned prisoners will permanently remain incarcerated without parole. While capital punishment has long been stalled in the state, the policy shift could eliminate millions of dollars in recurring judicial expenses.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon's departure marks the first major executive branch exit following the recent midterm elections that handed Democrats control of Congress. Her tenure at the Justice Department was shadowed by controversies, including an overhaul of the civil rights division that sparked pushback from hundreds of former agency officials. She now departs just as incoming congressional leaders ready sweeping oversight inquiries into administration actions.
Escalating overseas combat under the administration is reshaping domestic spending priorities and long-term federal obligations. With national resources diverted toward active fighting, analysts warn that retirement entitlements will face severe new fiscal pressures. These shifts could ultimately determine the stability of the safety net for millions of current and future beneficiaries.