Today in Focus Palestine Action wins court challenge over ban – The Latest
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Feb 13, 2026 
Owen Jones, Guardian columnist and campaigner known for sharp political commentary, discusses the High Court ruling that overturned the proscription of Palestine Action. He covers the legal reasoning, mass arrests and hunger strikes, threats to free expression, risks for writers and creatives, and wider political and humanitarian implications. The conversation probes government motives and media narratives.
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Court Distinguishes Crime From Terrorism
- The High Court ruled that Palestine Action's proscription was unlawful because their actions fall under ordinary criminal law, not terrorism powers.
- This distinction protects protest rights and constrains the government's use of counter-terror powers against civil disobedience.
Mass Arrests Included Elderly And Disabled
- Between 2,700 and 3,000 people were arrested protesting with placards like "I oppose genocide" and many arrested were elderly or disabled.
- Some activists, including an 83-year-old retired vicar and blind disabled people, were forcibly taken into custody, highlighting the human cost of the ban.
Terror Labels Threaten Democratic Rights
- Applying terrorism labels to non-terror groups risks a slide toward authoritarianism and chills free expression.
- The precedent could enable future governments to use counter-terror laws to silence dissidents.