The UK Has Jailed Four Palestine Action Activists As “Terrorists” And Upheld Its Ban Of The Organization
The decision has prompted criticism that the case blurs the line between political protest and terrorism.
A UK judge has sentenced four Palestine Action activists as “terrorists” for damaging equipment at an Israeli arms factory.
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, 24 Palestine Action activists known as the “Filton 24” broke into Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems’ facility in Filton.
Six activists — Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin — were arrested at the time, and the rest of the 24 activists were later arrested in different police raids.
In July 2025, the UK government banned Palestine Action 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.
Tthe activists were then left in custody awaiting trial far beyond the UK’s six-month pre-trial detention limit.
They were not released until Feb. 4 after a jury in London cleared the initial six activists of aggravated burglary.
However, later in May, the six activists went back to court to face retrial on criminal charges, with authorities accusing them of causing about US$1.6 million in damages to drones, military equipment and factory infrastructure, according to The Guardian.
On May 5, the jury cleared Devlin and Rogers of all charges, but convicted the four others of criminal damage.
They were sentenced on June 13, with Judge Jeremy Johnson ruling that the raid was a "terrorist act."
He said the activists aimed to shut down Elbit's operations and pressure the British government to end its support for Israeli arms production, which, he found, qualified as trying to "influence the UK government" and "intimidate a section of the public" for an ideological cause.
He sentenced Head and Kamio to five years in jail each, Rajwani to four years and eight months, while Corner received seven years and eight months after also being convicted of grievous bodily harm.
The decision has prompted criticism from lawyers, human rights groups and campaigners who argue the case blurs the line between political protest and terrorism.
Amnesty International UK also criticized the ruling ahead of sentencing, warning that criminal damage has historically not been treated as terrorism in the UK and arguing that expanding terrorism powers to protest cases risks undermining civil liberties.
The case comes as Palestine Action faces a wider legal battle over the British government banning it as a “terrorist” organization.
Campaigners and civil liberties groups had challenged the ruling in court, but judges ultimately upheld the proscription on Monday, June 15, meaning membership of or support for Palestine Action remains a criminal offense under UK terrorism laws.
The court found that the ban appropriately balanced national security concerns against free speech rights.
Flavie Chen
Flavie Chen
Flavie Chen
