LONDON

Hundreds of British Jews, including renowned film director Mike Leigh and author Michael Rosen, have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, condemning the UK government's decision to classify the direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, calling the decision "illegitimate and unethical."

A delegation of signatories delivered the letter to Downing Street on Tuesday afternoon.

The letter strongly rebukes the government’s stance, stating: "Opposing the brutality of genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing taking place in Gaza and the West Bank, including taking direct action, is not antisemitic.

Nor is it terrorism. We consider the ban on Palestine Action as illegitimate and unethical."

It added: "The actions of the UK government expand on a disturbing trend of attempts by successive governments to restrict peaceful protests intended to save lives."

The signatories cite Article 10 of the Human Rights Act, which guarantees the right to free expression, including the right to engage in nonviolent direct action, even if it involves civil disobedience.

"Article 10 of the Human Rights Act specifies the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to take non-violent direct action in accordance with one's conscience, even where this involves civil disobedience."

Previously, the UN's human rights chief criticized the UK government's ban on Palestine Action, calling it a "disturbing" abuse of counter-terrorism legislation.

Volker Türk urged the government to lift the ban, saying it was "disproportionate and unnecessary."

- Cooper defends banning Palestine Action

In response to growing criticism over the ban, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has stood by the decision.

Speaking on LBC on Tuesday, Cooper said: "The proscribing process is based on very extensive security advice and security assessments to me as home secretary, which I have to take immensely seriously. That security assessment looks at the violent attacks, injuries, attacks on national security infrastructure, and also includes an assessment and some really troubling information that refers to future attack planning as well."

Cooper suggested that the ban targets a specific group, not lawful protests supporting Palestine.

Addressing those who might be unaware of the full details of the group, Cooper said: "I understand there are people who don’t really know the details of this organization, who may be thinking about protesting, but who don’t know (full details).

What I would say to them is that more information is likely to be revealed about this organization as various trials go through the legal system."

A legal bid to challenge the government's decision to list Palestine Action as a terrorist group can go ahead, the UK High Court ruled last week.

The High Court has granted permission to Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, to bring a full judicial review against the order of Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, banning the group as a terrorist organization.

In June, Cooper announced the ban under the Terrorism Act 2000 after activists spray-painted planes at a Royal Air Force base, an act being investigated under counter-terrorism laws.

Later, the ban was passed in the House of Commons and the House of Lords earlier this month.