Greta Thunberg Has Been Arrested By UK Police For Supporting Detained Palestine Action Activists
The eight Palestine Action activists have been on a hunger strike after being detained for over a year without trial.
Police in the UK have arrested Swedish activist Greta Thunberg in London under its Terrorism Act for supporting Palestine Action, which the UK government banned as a terrorist group.
Palestine Action is a pro-Palestine group founded in 2020 that uses non-violent direct action to disrupt the arms industry in the UK, which supplies the Israeli army with weapons used in its genocide in Gaza.
In August 2024, Palestine Action broke into Elbit Systems' Filton facility in Bristol.
At the time, police arrested six out of 24 activists, known as the Filton24, accusing them of aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder.
The six activists have been in custody for more than a year without trial, breaking the UK’s six-month pre-trial detention limit, according to Al Jazeera.
The rest of the 24 activists were later arrested in different police raids.
On July 5, the UK government banned the group as a terrorist organization, making it illegal for people in the UK to be a member of or support Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act of 2000.
People found guilty of supporting Palestine Action will face penalties of up to 14 years in prison, similar to showing support for groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.
On Nov. 2, eight of the detained Palestine Action activists started a hunger strike in protest against what they say is “systematic abuse” in the prisons.
They include Amu Gib, Heba Muraisi, Jon Cink, Kamran Ahmed, Teuta Hoxha, Qesser Zurah, Lewie Chiaramello and Umer Khalid,
They are demanding the shutdown of Elbit Systems, bail, fair trial and prison authorities to stop the alleged abuse.
On Tuesday, Dec. 23, Thunberg attended a protest held by Prisoners for Palestine in London’s Square Mile financial district outside the offices of Aspen Insurance, which provides coverage for Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems.
Thunberg was holding a sign, saying “I support Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide," before getting arrested.
Police also arrested two other people protesting with Thunberg.
Thunberg was released from custody hours later.
Cherry Mohamed
Cherry Mohamed
Cherry Mohamed
