Sally Rooney, Greta Thunberg and 1,000 More Sign Letter in Defiance of Palestine Action Ban

More than 1,000 people, including Irish author Sally Rooney and climate activist Greta Thunberg, have signed a letter in defiance of the ban on Palestine Action, to be delivered to the Court of Appeal as the government attempts to uphold its controversial proscription of the direct action group.

The letter simply states: “We oppose genocide, we support Palestine Action.” It is expected to be hand-delivered to the court on Tuesday 28 April, when the government delivers its arguments appealing against the landmark high court ruling that found the proscription of Palestine Action to be unlawful in February. 

The letter is the first time that acclaimed writers, scholars and creatives have come together to defy the ban. Signatories include distinguished professor Judith Butler, musician Brian Eno, Israeli professors Ilan Pappé and Avi Shlaim, author and anti-apartheid campaigner Andrew Feinstein, and Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja. 

Also adding their names are hundreds of members of the public from all walks of life, including trade union officials, retired prison officers, nurses, architects, teachers, carers and members of the clergy. All signatories risk arrest under UK terror law.  

On Tuesday, the Home Office will argue against the February judicial review ruling in favour of Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori, while Wednesday 29 April will be Ammori’s chance to deliver her arguments. 

The ban on Palestine Action – a direct action group which aims to end global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime in the Occupied Palestinian Territories – remains in force until the government’s appeal is complete, despite it being ruled unlawful. This means anyone showing support for the group can still be punished by up to 14 years in prison under counter-terror legislation. 

A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries (DOJ), which has coordinated high-profile demonstrations across the country to protest the ban, told Novara Media: “It takes something out of the ordinary for so many eminent professors, including professors of law, to risk arrest under the Terrorism Act. But when you brand as terrorists your political opponents, who are obviously not terrorists, a red line towards authoritarianism has been crossed. 

“Such an assault on democracy will never gain social acceptance in Britain, as today’s letter, which follows on from the more than 3,000 arrests that have already taken place, so clearly shows.”

Normal People and Intermezzo author Rooney cancelled a visit to the UK to accept an award last year as she feared arrest after pledging to use proceeds from her work to support Palestine Action – which could mean legal consequences for UK booksellers and broadcasters of adaptations of her books. 

Earlier this month, the Metropolitan police arrested more than 500 people for holding signs that read “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” at a demonstration in London’s Trafalgar Square. This came after the Met U-turned on their initial decision to stop making arrests for supporting the group following Ammori’s landmark judicial review victory. 

A judgement on the government’s appeal is expected to be delivered in late May or early June. If the government’s appeal fails, the ban on Palestine Action will likely be lifted and the initial judicial review ruling upheld – although the possibility of a further appeal to the Supreme Court remains.

The government’s controversial decision to ban Palestine Action was ruled unlawful on 13 February by a three-judge panel, on the grounds that it disproportionately impacts free speech and then-home secretary Yvette Cooper breached her own policy in the proscription process. 

The ban on Palestine Action is the first time a direct action group has been proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000, and Ammori’s legal challenge marks the first time a proscribed group has been able to dispute its proscription via judicial review. 

There have been more arrests made under UK terror law since Palestine Action was proscribed in July 2025 than during the entire war on terror. 

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed a conservative estimate of 72,000 Palestinians and wounded 172,000 since October 2023.