Massive Attack on Palestine Action High Court ruling: "Bad laws are meant to be broken"

Massive Attack have spoken out regarding the High Court's ruling that Palestine Action is not a terrorist organisation.

The English trip-hop duo shared their thoughts on the ruling in a statement on Instagram, writing, "Keith Starmer's government wanted to punish those who made their complicity in a genocide visible."

"They confected an authoritarian law to retaliate against peaceful citizens holding signs. They wanted to brand those people 'terrorists'. Just like the court of opinion, the High Court has now found that unlawful."

While three High Court judges have ruled that Palestine Action does not qualify as a terrorist organisation, the group's activities remain banned under UK law, and the future of some 2500 people arrested for supporting the group remains uncertain.

"Respect & love for every citizen, every pensioner, every young person who risked their liberty to resist genocide," the statement continued.

"Under any authoritarian government, bad laws are there to be broken. Free Palestine."

Massive Attack have continually spoken out against the UK's response to the Palestinian genocide, beginning with a call for a ceasefire via Instagram on October 17, 2023. Since 1999, they have boycotted playing in Israel to show their opposition for the country's military occupation of Gaza.

In 2025, they performed at the Mallorca Live Festival with a Palestinian flag backdrop.

The band has signed an open letter calling for Live Nation to cut ties with Israel.

Prior to their activism for Palestine, Massive Attack have long voiced their political opinions and called for humanitarian aid worldwide. In recent years, they have taken action in the fight against climate change, partnering with the Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research to reduce carbon emissions in the music industry.

Read Massive Attack's entire statement below:

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